What Drug Abuse Does to Your Teeth
Drug abuse, whether the drugs are legal or illegal, can cause teeth to decay, break, and even fall out.
People who abuse drugs generally do so knowing that it is not healthy for them.
However, they may not know what it does to one of the most important aspects of their appearance: their teeth.
Look no further than Charlie Sheen to see the effects.
The website WebDental.
com showed pictures of Sheen in 2011 with many of his teeth broken and filled with gold.
We will take a look at what some of the most-commonly-abused drugs can do to a person's teeth, gums, and mouth.
By the time dentists see these effects in their patients, they often have no choice but to remove the teeth or what is left of them.
If it is affordable, cosmetic dentistry may be the only solution because the teeth are beyond repair.
We may see celebrities who are well-known drug abusers with what appears to be perfect teeth, but chances are, they are not real.
Cocaine Cocaine causes tooth decay because users often rub it directly on their teeth, causing ulceration of gums and even the underlying bone.
Cocaine and crack cocaine also cause dry mouth, which exposes teeth to bacteria that causes decay.
When mixed with saliva, cocaine creates an extremely acidic solution that erodes tooth enamel and exposes the underlying dentine (the supporting structure of the tooth) to decay-causing bacteria.
Ecstasy This popular club drug (also known as MDMA) is known as a "love drug" for the general feeling of well-being that it produces.
However, it also causes tooth decay, grinding, jaw clenching and dry mouth.
Ecstasy can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can lead to tooth abrasion.
Heroin Heroin is usually injected, so its effect on teeth is indirect.
It can cause sugar cravings, which increase the risk of tooth decay.
It can also cause dry mouth and tooth grinding.
Methamphetamine In dentistry, the effects of this drug are summed up by the term "meth mouth.
" Meth, also known as "speed," is a highly-acidic drug that destroys tooth enamel very quickly.
It also causes dry mouth, teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Over-the-counter Drugs Illegal drugs are not the only ones that, when abused, can cause serious dental issues.
When taken in excess, aspirin, asthma medications, and cough and cold syrups can damage tooth enamel and cause tooth decay because of their high sugar content and/or acidity.
Aside from the dental problems caused directly by drug abuse, another common problem is lack of proper oral hygiene, and failure to see a dentist on a regular basis, both of which exacerbate the damage caused by drugs.
Dentists and other professionals in the dental field know how to spot symptoms of drug abuse in patients' teeth and mouth.
These can include not only tooth decay and stained and broken teeth, but gum disease and mouth ulcers.
Of course, by the time it gets to this point, the patient probably has far more serious issues than his or her dental health.
People who abuse drugs generally do so knowing that it is not healthy for them.
However, they may not know what it does to one of the most important aspects of their appearance: their teeth.
Look no further than Charlie Sheen to see the effects.
The website WebDental.
com showed pictures of Sheen in 2011 with many of his teeth broken and filled with gold.
We will take a look at what some of the most-commonly-abused drugs can do to a person's teeth, gums, and mouth.
By the time dentists see these effects in their patients, they often have no choice but to remove the teeth or what is left of them.
If it is affordable, cosmetic dentistry may be the only solution because the teeth are beyond repair.
We may see celebrities who are well-known drug abusers with what appears to be perfect teeth, but chances are, they are not real.
Cocaine Cocaine causes tooth decay because users often rub it directly on their teeth, causing ulceration of gums and even the underlying bone.
Cocaine and crack cocaine also cause dry mouth, which exposes teeth to bacteria that causes decay.
When mixed with saliva, cocaine creates an extremely acidic solution that erodes tooth enamel and exposes the underlying dentine (the supporting structure of the tooth) to decay-causing bacteria.
Ecstasy This popular club drug (also known as MDMA) is known as a "love drug" for the general feeling of well-being that it produces.
However, it also causes tooth decay, grinding, jaw clenching and dry mouth.
Ecstasy can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can lead to tooth abrasion.
Heroin Heroin is usually injected, so its effect on teeth is indirect.
It can cause sugar cravings, which increase the risk of tooth decay.
It can also cause dry mouth and tooth grinding.
Methamphetamine In dentistry, the effects of this drug are summed up by the term "meth mouth.
" Meth, also known as "speed," is a highly-acidic drug that destroys tooth enamel very quickly.
It also causes dry mouth, teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Over-the-counter Drugs Illegal drugs are not the only ones that, when abused, can cause serious dental issues.
When taken in excess, aspirin, asthma medications, and cough and cold syrups can damage tooth enamel and cause tooth decay because of their high sugar content and/or acidity.
Aside from the dental problems caused directly by drug abuse, another common problem is lack of proper oral hygiene, and failure to see a dentist on a regular basis, both of which exacerbate the damage caused by drugs.
Dentists and other professionals in the dental field know how to spot symptoms of drug abuse in patients' teeth and mouth.
These can include not only tooth decay and stained and broken teeth, but gum disease and mouth ulcers.
Of course, by the time it gets to this point, the patient probably has far more serious issues than his or her dental health.
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