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I hear this term now and then when discussing meth addiction. What does it mean when someone has "meth mouth"? What's it look like? methamphetamines MethamphetaminesMethamphetamines, AKA metamfetamine, meth, glass, N-methylamphetamine, methylamphetamine, and desoxyephedrine, are psychoactive stimulants commonly abused on the street. meth-abuse Meth AbuseMeth mouth is a direct result of chronic methamphetamine abuse. meth-addiction Meth AddictionMeth addiction can cause meth mouth. |
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Heavy methamphetamine use causes bruxism (severe teeth grinding and clenching), hyposalivation (extreme dry mouth), and neglect of oral hygiene. Together, these effects can quickly cause advanced tooth decay, or "meth mouth", resulting in lost teeth and gum infection. It's an ugly sight. |
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It's what meth does to your mouth. It looks like mouth disease. Black and brown teeth, if any at all, rotting gums, jaw damage... |
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Causes of meth mouth:
Google "meth mouth" and be disgusted. also checkout this interactive animation from the meth project: http://www.methproject.org/answers/what-is-meth-mouth.html#The-Perfect-Storm |
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Here is another description I just came across that explains it differently: In attempting to synthesize crystal meth, do-it-yourselfers often unwittingly produce a drug coated with toxins like hydroiodic acid. The best way to remove these byproducts is by washing the drug in alcohol using a Büchner funnel, a specialized lab vacuum that most kitchen chemists have never heard of it. When this final purification step is skipped, the toxins eat away at the user’s gums, teeth, and inner lining of the cheeks, resulting in a toothless, hollowed-out condition known as “meth mouth.” (From: Discover Magazine Article "Juicers, Trippers, and Crocodiles: The Dangerous World of Underground Chemistry" March 2012 issue) |
Meth is "one of the most highly addictive substances known. Methamphetamine abuse leads to devastating medical, psychological, and social consequences. Adverse health effects include memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart damage, malnutrition, and severe dental problems." Meth was originally introduced as a stimulant to keep soldiers alert in WWII and has been used to treat ADHD (though rarely used anymore). Meth is so destructive it is considered the greatest drug addiction threat of all substances.