32 reasons the devastation of meth mouth presented by mitchtv.net to not do meth:
TRANSCRIPT
32 Reasons
The Devastation of METH MOUTH
Presented by MITCHTV.NET
to NOT do Meth:
“Meth Mouth” is becoming more and more prevalent in current and former users of
this extremely addictive drug.
Teeth decay rapidly, causing the destruction known as
“Meth Mouth.”
It is the culmination of years of crystal methamphetamine
use.
Meet Stacy.
She is just 20 years old…
Persons using crystal meth, tweeking for days at a time, will often stay awake and high for
five to thirty days.
During this period, the acrid smoke, decreased saliva flow,
poor hygiene, lack of dental care, and those extended periods of continuous activity and sleep take their toll on the user’s
teeth.
Here is Kris.
He started using at 13 years old and quit around
the age of 21.
Teeth decalcify due to the highly acidic, moist, dark,
environment, a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and thereby, dental decay.
In “Meth Mouth,” teeth develop decay along the
gumline, called cervical caries, which weaken the tooth
structure.
Cervical Caries
In the early stages of meth mouth, dentists may notice cervical (gumline) cavities
and sometimes interproximal caries (cavities
between teeth).
Teachers or parents will see these cavities as dark spots between the front teeth, a
telltale sign of tooth decay.
As crystal meth use continues, so does the degradation of the enamel,
as it is exposed over and over to physical and chemical insults.
Even if the individual discontinues the use of methamphetamines, the
enamel has been weakened and teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay.
Kris is still in the process of
getting ALL his teeth removed.
By age 25, no natural teeth will
remain.
Decades of abuse.
Let’s take a closer look into
Ralph’s mouth.
Many crystal meth users are unable to hold jobs as they have no short term memory, making it
hard for them to learn new procedures, they are unreliable,
jittery, and paranoid.
Additionally, severe decay in their teeth, especially their front teeth
where the smoke from crank touches the mouth first, is readily
apparent when they speak; a 'flashing red light' of sorts, to any
prospective employers.
Patients will, unable to tolerate the pain and
unable to locate a dentist willing to work
for free, lance abscesses themselves or extract teeth with needle nose pliers.
"I can't stand the pain...
Can you save my teeth?" The destruction is
deep to the core.
THE NET RESULT OF METH MOUTH
=
Dentures. WARNING: The next image shows blood.
Ralph’s X-Rays can show the devastation deep to the root and make a clear visual that teeth are
being literally eaten away.
We cannot forget that “Meth Mouth” is only one of many results of the use of crystal
meth.
Organ systems affected result in heart failure, strokes, liver failure and loss of memory at
extremely young ages, often in patients as young as 22.
“Meth Mouth” is only a visible sign.
This is Laurie.
Close in age to Ralph, Laurie’s mouth shows the telltale signs of
rampant crystal methamphetamine use.
Healthy teeth
do NOT look like this!
Teeth look as though they have been dipped in
battery acid and, in a way, they have.
The coronal portion of the teeth will decay to the gum line, abscess, and become non-restorable as no tooth structure remains above
the bone line.
Often, the gingiva will grow over the remaining
stumps of roots and extractions become
extremely difficult, as teeth have been reduced to extremely soft mush by
crystal meth use.
Larry is 25…
…and on the fast track to
dentures.
The adult dentition has 32 teeth, 32 reasons to never do
crystal meth!
In as little as 4 years they can be reduced to
rubble.
These are the
consequences of using CRYSTAL
METH.
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We need to keep our kids off meth!
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