Methamphetamines are notorious for the damage they cause to dental health. In fact, one of the common signs of meth abuse is “meth mouth” or extreme tooth decay, such as severe tooth decay, gum disease, broken and crumbling teeth missing teeth.

Some reports blame the tooth decay on the corrosive effects of these chemicals in meth, which,

when smoked or snorted, can erode the tooth’s protective enamel.

When meth is consumed, it causes the individual’s blood vessels to shrink. This limits the steady blood flow that their mouth needs to stay healthy. Repeated shrinkage causes the blood vessels to die and the oral tissues to decay.

Likewise, meth use leads to “dry mouth” (xerostomia). Without enough saliva to neutralize the acids in the mouth, the acids eat away at the teeth and gums. Then the cavities are worsened by behavior common to meth users on a high:

• Strong desire for sugary drinks and food
• Compulsive tooth grinding
• Overall neglect of regular oral hygiene

Cocaine is a risk to your dental health, no matter how you ingest it. When cocaine combines with saliva, it forms an acidic substance that wears down your teeth. Therefore, when you smoke crack or put powdered cocaine in your mouth, the acid coats your teeth and breaks down the protective enamel.

Especially when smoked as crack or rubbed on the gums, cocaine can lead to:

• Erosion of the tooth’s enamel
• Receding gums
• Gum disease
• Increased teeth grinding
• Loose teeth

A study from 2021 noted that gum disease caused by smoking crack cocaine can lead to the breakdown of the teeth, gums, and surrounding bone tissues. Ingesting cocaine orally causes ulcerated sores on the gums where the cocaine touches, typically near the front teeth.

MDMA is a popular recreational drug. It can cause several oral complications, including:

• Dry mouth
• Tooth wear due to bruxism (teeth grinding) and jaw clenching
• Drug-induced anorexia causing malnutrition
• Tooth erosion because of the high consumption of carbonated drinks to combat the sensation of dry mouth
• The topical use of Ecstasy can cause oral-tissue death and mucosal fenestration (exposed tooth root)

Heroin is an opiate that can create severe dental issues. It increases cravings for sweets and dries out the mouth, raising the risk of tooth decay. Individuals who inject heroin into their veins experience damage similar to what’s caused by meth, such as: missing teeth, rotten and broken teeth, and gum disease.

Since heroin is a pain-killing drug, it may cause the user to ignore the pain of their damaged teeth and gums, in addition to the other ways most illegal drugs hurt your mouth.

The smoke from cannabis is a carcinogen and can cause mouth cancer. You may also develop cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome if you smoke it often. This syndrome leads to nausea and vomiting. The acids from your stomach then end up in your mouth and wear away the enamel, leading to tooth decay.

When you consider what drugs make your teeth fall out, you probably didn’t think of alcohol. Regular consumption of alcohol can cause dry mouth and erosion of the tooth enamel. In addition, most alcohols are acidic, which is hard on the teeth. All of this can increase the risk of mouth cancer, particularly when used in combination with smoking.

In some cases, people with a dependence on alcohol neglect their dental hygiene. If you are dating an alcoholic, their decline in dental health may be more apparent to you than even them. Finding support and resources for help, such as an alcohol rehab center in Illinois, can be a crucial step towards recovery and improving overall health, including dental health.

Chronic dry mouth is a problem common to many drugs. When the drug reduces the flow of saliva, which would typically wash away leftover food debris, the amount of bacteria in the mouth increases.

Saliva also helps neutralize the acids from food and drinks and aids in the repair of the enamel after it’s been damaged. If the drugs reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth, they are unable to provide these benefits and contribute to the loss of enamel and the buildup of bacteria that causes decay and cavities.

As mentioned above, bruxism is the grinding of your teeth. This is another side effect of certain drugs. When an individual is addicted to a drug that causes them to grind their teeth regularly, the grinding action causes the teeth to loosen, break, or wear down. Eventually, bruxism can cause the loss of teeth.

Some other types of drugs cause vomiting. When an individual vomits, they’re expelling stomach acids that contact and erode the tooth enamel. Vomiting without brushing afterward can result in severe dental issues.

Frequently, the simple lack of dental care results in the most drastic dental issues. Individuals with severe addictions tend to lower their dental hygiene standards. The high from the drug and their need to use it is the priority in their life.

If a person doesn’t regularly brush their teeth, the risk for dental problems increases substantially. Also, some drugs increase the cravings for sweets. The increased sugar consumption, along with poor dental care, also speeds up decay.

Certain drugs and alcohol can also decrease a person’s ability to feel the pain linked with having cavities. Due to this, many substance users don’t have the pain checked out by a dentist. In other cases, the person may attempt to self-medicate by taking more drugs instead of going to a dentist to try to save their teeth.