It is Never Too Late to Straighten Your Teeth

There are many street drugs that affect your teeth, and drugs along with poor dental care only makes the problem worse. If you had a family member that was on either ecstasy or meth, they likely did not put dental care on the top of their list. If this is true, gum disease, gingivitis, tooth decay, and cracked teeth are just some of the complications they may have.

Ecstasy

If your family member is a user of ecstasy (MDMA), they likely clench down and grind their teeth when they are high on this drug. Because of this, many ecstasy users often suck on things like lollipops and pacifiers, or chew gum, while on the drug. Grinding on teeth causes them to wear down, which results in fractures of the teeth and fillings to fall out.

Sucking on lollipops and pacifiers causes dry mouth. This is bad for the teeth because saliva is needed to wash away plaque and food from the teeth. Saliva also neutralizes the acids in the mouth. This is important because these acids can eat away at the teeth enamel.

Methamphetamine

If your family member is a user of methamphetamine (meth), this drug can cause extreme tooth decay that has been referred to as "meth mouth." People that use meth usually have rotting, stained, and blackened teeth. The causes of meth mouth are likely poor dental care, and to chemicals found in the drug, such as ammonia and lithium, which damage the tooth enamel. Meth users may binge on sugary drinks and foods, and do not brush or floss for long periods of time.

When your family member injects meth into their body, the blood vessels constrict. When this happens, the blood supply is limited to their mouth, which the mouth needs to stay healthy. Meth also causes dry mouth, which decreases the amount of saliva in the mouth. Tooth grinding is often a common symptom of meth users, which leads to teeth problems.

If your family member gets off ecstasy user, they can visit a cosmetic dentist to fix their teeth. The doctor may fix the problem with misshapen teeth using porcelain veneers, dental crowns, or dental implants. The cosmetic dentist may give your family member a dental guard to protect their teeth from further grinding.

If your family member quits doing meth, they can visit a dental hygienist, who will likely clean the areas around their teeth with a peroxide solution. They will then apply fluoride to the teeth to try to stop the decay, and prescribe antibiotics to take care of any infections. If the hygienist cannot restore the teeth, they will likely send your family member to a cosmetic dentist to replace their teeth with dentures. Contact a professional like one from Staller & Gandel D.D.S for more information.