What Is Meth Mouth?
One question that people typically have in regard to meth is, “What is meth mouth?” It’s a term that comes up a lot when people talk about those who use meth. However, the majority of people don’t even know what meth mouth is or why it affects people who use meth. It’s important that people know that it not only looks bad but is also dangerous to the users’ health.
What Is Meth Mouth?
Meth mouth is an oral condition that affects people who use methamphetamine (meth). It’s usually a symptom that people develop after using meth for a long period of time. Spotting someone with meth mouth is usually easy because of broken, brown or black teeth. Knowing the answer to, “What is meth mouth?” can keep people from using meth in the first place.
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What Is Meth?
While meth is dangerous, it has medical use. When it first came about, doctors used it to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity.
This drug is a highly addictive stimulant. It alters the neurotransmitters in the brain. Once people take meth, it enters directly into their nerve cells. From here, it “rewards” the brain, causing a feeling of euphoria.
Why Does Meth Cause Meth Mouth?
The reason that meth mouth develops is because of the side effects of the drug. One of these is dry mouth, which is a condition in which the salivary glands stop making saliva. Since saliva neutralizes acidic foods, the lack of saliva makes it easy to damage the outer layer of the teeth.
With no outer layer to protect the teeth, it’s easy for cavities to form. As people continue to use meth, the problem gets worse, and their teeth start to decay. To make matters worse, bacteria levels in a dry mouth are 10 times higher than a healthy mouth. These high levels cause the gums to recede, making it easier for teeth to fall out.
People who use meth also grind their teeth. Doctors say that it’s a direct reaction to the drug. Grinding the teeth makes them weak. Eventually, people grind them so much that they chip and break.
Don’t Lose Your Teeth to Meth Mouth
Addictions are hard for people to overcome on their own. If you suffer from an addiction such as meth, reach out to Serenity Lodge. As a drug rehab center, we can help you overcome your addiction. We offer a number of great addiction treatment programs, including:
Don’t let your mouth become a victim to meth. Get the help that you need to overcome your addiction. Contact us at (855) 932-4045 for more information.
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