Brownwood Education & "Meth Mouth"

From Donald Nitkin, DDS, MS,
Your Guide to Oral Health.
A Highly Addictive Substance That Rots Teeth
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance. Its use is growing in the United States. One of the many problems this drug produces is rampant tooth decay with the teeth literally falling apart.
Methamphetamine can be made with a mix of substances, including over-the-counter cold medicine, fertilizer, battery acid, lye and hydrogen peroxide. Recipes are readily available on the internet.
Methamphetamine reduces the amount of a person’s saliva. Saliva is important for neutralizing acids and clearing food from the teeth. Decreased saliva flow allows the build up of bacteria to ten times over normal levels. Without saliva, acids can eat away tooth enamel which in turn causes cavities. Many drink high-sugar containing beverages to alleviate dry mouth. In addition to poor oral hygiene and neglect, the drug “high” that users get produces a lot of nervousness and anxiety.
The drug also causes constriction of the blood vessels to the gums and soft tissues. When a person smokes Meth, the corrosive ingredients are heated, vaporized in the user's mouth. They irritate and burn the soft tissues of the mouth. The result is gum disease, mouth sores, infection, and damage to tooth enamel. Snorting draws the caustic substances down the nasal passages and ends up on the teeth.
Also, a potential danger exists for drug interactions with dental anesthetics. These, in turn, could cause major episodes of high blood pressure or other health problems.
The resultant oral problems have become known as "meth mouth”. It is especially evident among prison inmates. Because it is difficult to tell the difference between very poor oral hygiene and that caused by drugs, there are no good statistics on the magnitude of the problem. Many states have seen a dramatic rise in the cost for inmate dental care.
Methamphetamine is not likely to disappear any time soon. The profit is huge. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration , Methamphetamine prices vary throughout different regions of the United States. At the distribution level, prices range from $3,500 per pound in parts of California and Texas to $21,000 per pound in southeastern and northeastern regions of the country. Retail prices range from $400 to $3,000 per ounce.
The DEA also reports that where methamphetamine production is prevalent, the environmental suffers. Chemicals from dumpsites contaminate water supplies, kill livestock, destroy national forest lands, and render areas uninhabitable. Methamphetamine laboratory fires or explosions have destroyed buildings and homes, injuring occupants and endangering neighboring residents and buildings. Every year, hundreds of children are neglected by parents who are meth “cooks”.
Health care professionals are being asked to be on the alert for symptoms of drug use or for patients who are high when they come for treatment.
Last year, Oklahoma became the first state to classify such common cold remedies as Sudafed and Claritin-D as Schedule V narcotics. These drugs, formerly available anywhere are forbidden to be sold in stores other than pharmacies. In pharmacies, the pills have to be placed behind counters. The amount sold to any customer is limited and purchasers must show a photo ID and sign a register. Important disclaimer information about this About site.