How To Spot Meth Mouth - Oral Health

Meth mouth is a dental problem directly caused by the use of, and the side effects of methamphetamine and other drugs. It is unknown how many meth users (tweakers) have developed meth mouth because so many of them do not visit a dentist on a regular basis. Of those users who are showing up as patients, many are still in their teens.

Methamphetamines interact dangerously with some dental anesthetics and may cause severe hypertensive episodes and other problems including organ failure. Dentists should familiarize themselves with the signs of tweaking.

Tweakers may react differently to your usual patients and maybe irritable or paranoid. Tweakers often appear normal but their eye movement is faster, there may be a slight quiver to their voice and their movement s may appear jerky.

Some symptoms of meth mouth are:

• Xerostomia or Dry mouth: Methamphetamines dry out the salivary glands. Other medications may cause dry mouth but Meth is very bad.
• Gingivitis and gum diseases: blood vessels to the oral tissue shrink because of meth use. Lack of blood to the tissue cause the tissue to break down and die.
• Tooth decay: tweakers often try to combat dry mouth with sugary soda, which then leads to an increase in bacteria and ultimately, cavities.

Dental treatment tweakers should be no different to any other patient except for the behavioural awareness and the use of anesthetics.

Dentist’s have a duty to advise their patient’s of the health dangers of drug use particularly if they spot a meth mouth.