04/11/2022
Drugs, alcohol and your oral health
by Kebaowek First Nation Mazinaigan/Newsletter April 2022
While many people who think of drug abuse imagine damage to the lungs, stomach, heart or brain, many types of drugs damage the teeth and gums. People who struggle with addiction spend a great deal of their time intoxicated on drugs or trying to acquire more drugs; this means that they often neglect oral hygiene because they cannot afford a dentist or they simply stop caring about brushing their teeth.
There a several ways that each drug can, individually, damage oral health. Here are the most common ways that addictive drugs can generally harm the mouth and teeth :
-Dry mouth, which increases acid in the mouth and leads to rotting enamel
-Acid reflux, which also rots enamel and hurts soft tussue
-Grinding teeth
-Loss of blood flow to roots and gums
-Ulcers or sores in the mouth that can become infected
-A focus on attaining more drugs instead of caring for oral hygience
-Nutritional defiencies that can damage teeth and gums
-Greater intake of high-sugar food or beverage, which rots teeth
Drugs that affect oral health by Type
Most people know from public health advertissements that m**h (speed) abuse damages teeth ; however, they may not know how this occurs, how quickly it can happen, or that other drugs can damage oral health. Here are drugs that are most aften associated with damage to the teeth, gums, jaw and oral hygiene:
Co***ne
This potent stimulant affects the mouth, although it can cause different damage depending on how the drug is taken. It is very acidic, so if co***ne comes in contact with teeth, il will break down the enamel. Crack co***ne is the most common offender since it is smoked, although some people put powdered co***ne in their mouths to be absorde by their gums. Rubbing the powdered version into the gums also leads to mouth sores, which can become infected. Snorting powdered co**in damages the tissues in the upper palate, which may eventually cause a hole to form between the nose and mouth. Co***ne may cause a movement disorder called transient chorea ; this can manifest jay and mouth-related muscle spasms called buccolingual dyskinesia, which can look like gringing the teeth or a strange smile. Grinding the teeth can crack them and cause damage to the enamel, the surrounding gums, and the jaw.
M**h / Speed
Poor dental health is associated with m**h use in a condition colloquially called m**h mouth, as this drug rots teeth very quickly. M**h causes blood vessels to shrivel and die, and this causes problems in the gums. M**h also makes the mouth dry out, and without saliva, other acids in the mouth wear away enamel. Since the drug is a stimulant, it causes people who take it to grind their teeth due to stress ; people who struggle with m**h addiction also crave sugary foods and drink, which can damage oral hygiene.
Amphetamines
So-called club drugs, like ecstasy, M**A, Molly and derivatives of these amphetamines, cause the person who take them to grind their teeth, which can cause teeth to crack. The action can also damage the jaw. These stimulant drugs cause dry mouth and can lead to dehydration, which can damage teeth, their enamel, and other structures in the mouth.
Alcohol
This legal, but addictive, intoxicating substance is made from fermented sugars and may have additional sugar added later. This can lead to a faster buildup of plaque. Alcohol is also acidic, so the combination can quickly lead to tooth decay. Acid reflux can bring up stomach acids that may further wear away at the teeth. Red wine, brown liquors, and alcohol with other colorants can stain teeth, which can be unsightly.
Opioids and Opiates
He**in causes people to crave sugary foods or soda, which can damage teeth and their roots. Although opioids and opiates are not stimulant drugs, they can cause users to grind their teeth, chich cracks teeth and damages the jaw. Those who infect these drugs put themselves at higher risk for many infections, which can cause oral fungus or viral infections that affect the mouth. Since opioids also reduce pain, the associated loss of sensitivity could lead to the person, ignoring pain from cavities or gum disease. Unfortunately, dental surgery may lead to opioid addiction, for some people. Oral surgery to correct dental problems is common, and dentists typically prescribe a course of opioid painkillers after surgery. WHile thses are milder opioids like Percocet or VIcodin, the drugs may still trigger addiction for some individuals.
Get help ending substance abuse
Damage to oral health means that teeth may be lost, and gum disease could cause lasting harm to the mouth. This culd make eating difficult even after drug use has stopped, and it can damage a person's self-esteem, which can make emotionale recovery from substance abuse harder. Getting help with detox, then entering a rehabilitation program, can help a person overcome addiction.