Methamphetamine is a growing problem in the nation. According to estimates from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 10 million Americans have tried meth and more than 1.4 million are habitual users. Regardless of if they call the substance speed, chalk or ice, the highly addictive stimulate can create unappealing and unhealthy meth mouth that can make even the most skilled dentist recoil in fear.
Meth mouth is a nickname for the high rate of tooth decay caused by the illicit drug and abuse of the substance will cause an addict to have teeth that are blackened, stained, rotting and crumbling. The dental problems are not caused directly by meth use, but instead are a side effect of the high. The psycho stimulant can cause a user to increase negative behaviors such as teeth grinding, forgetting to drink liquids, which will cause chronic dry mouth and can result in putting dental care way on the back burner, behind the smoldering crack pipe.
The antibiotic, Tetracycline, is an important medicine to fight bacterial infections. The antibiotic is commonly prescribed to fight conditions such as acne, pink eye and urinary tract infections. There is no arguing the benefits of this important medicine, but too much of the cure can create unsightly smiles courtesy of Tetracycline stains.
According to 1-800-DENTIST, "Tetracycline teeth stains develop on permanent teeth while they are still forming under the gum line. During development, the drug becomes calcified in the tooth, generating tetracycline tooth stains." Children are susceptible to the condition until the age of eight and it can be spotted by unsavory-looking gray, brown or yellow tooth discolorations. Because Tetracycline stains occur during the development of permanent teeth, no amount of tooth bleaching or brushing will remove the discoloration as the off-colors are embedded into tooth enamel. Cosmetic dentistry and dental veneers may be the only way to hide the sorry state.
If you are an individual concerned that your drug consumption has negatively impacted your dental health, 1-800-DENTIST can put you on the right path to oral redemption. All you need to do is call one of our customer service representatives and they will provide you with the contact information for a great dentist happy to assist on your journey to dental health recovery.