If you smoke meth everyday but still brush your teeth 3 times a day will your teeth still evetually rot? Or do people only lose their teeth because it can cause people to develope poor hygiene? My friend has started experimenting and this was a question she asked me that I just wasn't sure how to answer..
I imagine that the teeth would still rot regardless of how well you look after them. I think some of the damage is caused partially by gritting and grinding of the teeth, whilst part of the damage would probably be caused by the chemicals being consumed. I have known drug users who have looked after their teeth extensively but it hadn't worked for them.
The two causes of "meth mouth" are poor hygiene and dehydration. Amphetamines slow down saliva production, which allows bacteria to thrive in the mouth. Having a dry mouth speeds up rot, but it can be easily combated by staying hydrated and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Great answer and quite interesting. I'm curious though - if 'meth mouth' is caused by poor hygeine and dehydration, then what causes the damage to people's faces (referred to around here as 'amphetamine face')?
It's mostly the same thing: bad hygiene and malnutrition. Meth on its own isn't necessarily physically harmful; it's much more neurotoxic than it is physically toxic. The problem is that amphetamines suppress your appetite. When you don't eat or stay hydrated, your body becomes very weak. In addition to that, amphetamines are secreted through the sweat glands once metabolized, so that can cause irritation which the users then scratch and pick at.
The problem is that you are thinking you are going to reduce the symptoms by thinking about them or planning ahead ´ if I brush my teeth´.. once you are addicted and using frequently, you aren´t going to be thinking about brushing your teeth ever again, you are going to be thinking about getting meth and getting month for meth. As the person above mentioned, meth addicts literally scratch their own skin off, do you think they are considering brushing their teeth. http://www.explain-health.com/methamphetamine-addiction-symptoms-recovery.html
I had always wondered what it was that caused users to itch and pick their skin but hadn't thought of asking so thanks for that. You say it's neurotoxic but everything I have read so far states that meth shows no signs of neurotoxicity whereas amphetamine does, which is why many users prefer to take meth over amphetamine.
Well I've always thought it's because of the chemicals in Meth. But this thread is very informative. Thank you!
Actually I got that wrong, it's the other way around - amphetamines supposedly show no (or very little) signs of neurotoxicity whereas meth does. I guess that may be one reason why amphetamine is still more popular than meth in the UK.
I am still of the opinion that it's a result of the chemicals in the substance. In fact, I am adamant of it. Why? Because I was an amphetamine user for a few years and during that time I was extremely self-conscious about my hygeine. I would shower at least once, sometimes twice per day, and would brush my teeth three times per day without fail and would also use mouthwash - it didn't do any good, my teeth (especially at the front) still rotted. It cannot be anything to do with hygeine in my own personal experience, I believe that is a myth.
Then I'm going to get back to my initial opinion. Oh, question: is there any chance of getting your teeth back after they rot? Or they can't be replaced at all?
A rotten tooth is a rotten tooth; rotten teeth from meth are no different than rotten teeth from anything else. If they're too far gone, they'll be removed and replaced with fake teeth.
As Rob93FL stated above, a rotten tooth is a rotten tooth - just like anything else that rots. It can be replaced but it can't recover. Another thing that occurred to me when thinking about this thread was that meth/amphetamine is often mixed with sodium bicarbonate, which can wear away at the enamel of your teeth.
Thanks for your time and answers guys! I was always interested in how drugs affect people. I think I will do a deeper research, ha ha.
Lots of great information here. I know some people that are on meth. These people recently had their kids taken by protective services. Which is really a good thing the kids were always nasty. Very sad what addiction can do to people. I wish I had a magic cure.
It's horrible what these kinds of drugs can do to a person. In all honesty I believe that both amphetamine and meth are substances that are potentially much more dangerous and will mess you up much quicker than many other more well known hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Unfortunately, not many people seem to realize that. Amphetamine/meth can totally mess you within six months to a year of regular use.
I have never done hard drugs, I was an alcoholic that was my poison. I've been in recovery for over 4 years thank the lord. My heart just aches to see young people on this stuff. I to have heard how it makes people addicts super fast. Once they are hooked they will do anything for more. That is really scary these people turn into monsters with no sense of right or wrong just to get another hit is all they want at any cost.
The worst thing about (meth)amphetamine is the physical crash the body endures at the end of a binge. The meth(amphetamine) will keep the body powered even when it's dehydrated and malnutritioned and the user will feel fine. It's only when they eventually can't get any more, or allow it to wear off, that their body begins to experience the physical consequences.
I hope I never have to deal with a meth addict. Not that I'm an uncaring monster. I just know I'm going to have to use a tough love approach if I'm confronted with it. I'll be damned if I'll be an enabler.
Proper hygiene isn't going to save someone from developing meth mouth, especially if they're constantly high on meth due to an addiction problem. Dehydration and a variety of other factors from meth use will cause meth mouth, and it's hard to fix once the damage has been done. Plus, then cosmetic dentistry is exceptionally expensive, so people are often forced to live with the effects of meth mouth, and it's not a pretty situation.