Q: What is meth mouth?

Why does crystal meth use have a potential for ruining someone’s teeth?

A. "Meth mouth" is caused by a number of things. Meth use constricts the vessels that supply blood to oral tissues. Since teeth and gums need blood to stay healthy, reduced blood supply causes tissues to shrink, which can eventually lead to blood vessels dying.

Also, the saliva in your mouth is a natural way to keep teeth healthy by reducing acid and bacteria that may hurt your teeth and gums. Meth makes the mouth very dry. A dry mouth makes the acid and bacteria more likely to damage the teeth.

Crystal users tend to grind their teeth or bite or chew on the inside of their mouths and cheeks. That hurts the skin and gums even more. Finally, meth users may eat sweets, candy and soda more, causing cavities, and may not brush or clean their teeth regularly.

The true frequency of meth mouth is unknown and we know many meth users with normal, healthy mouths and teeth.

For harm reduction approaches to meth use check out LifeLube.org/crystal, Tweaker.org or CrystalNeon.org.