Clinical Significance
Both dry mouth and extensive bruxism leave
Methamphetamine is highly addictive and causes euphoria, a subjective stimulation of performance, and an increased sense of self-esteem. It reduces the need for sleep, hunger, and thirst, while increasing sexual desire and word flow. As a result of all these effects, it is among the most common drugs abused worldwide. Methamphetamine has serious deleterious effects on oral health, causing dry mouth or xerostomia, excessive grinding of the teeth, and jaw clenching or muscle trismus. All of these
Data were culled from 100 chronic methamphetamine abusers and 100 matched-pair comparison individuals. Measures included saliva flow rate and total saliva production in milliliters per 5 minutes; buffering capacity of saliva in pH; bruxism symptoms related to tooth attrition, dentin exposure, and visible cracks in enamel; and signs of muscle trismus. These were then related to oral health damage.
Seventy-two percent of the methamphetamine abusers reported dry mouth, 68% said they had jaw clenching, and 47% had TMJ pain. Eighty-one percent of the methamphetamine abusers fulfilled the criteria for bruxism, but this was true for just 39% of the comparison group. The differences were statistically significant.
With respect to salivary data, total quantity of saliva was significantly lower in the methamphetamine group compared to the non-abuser group (Table 2). The median total quantity of
The effects of methamphetamine on the oral structures were statistically significant and contributed to poor oral health among those who abused methamphetamine. Saliva rates and buffering capacity were compromised and bruxism was significantly more common in methamphetamine abusers compared to normal individuals. Dry mouth was more common for methamphetamine abusers, which also contributed to their higher risk for dental caries. Clinical Significance Both dry mouth and extensive bruxism leave
Rommel N, Rohleder NH, Koerdt S, et al: Sympathomimetic effects of chronic methamphetamine abuse on oral health: A cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 16:59, 2016
Reprints available from N Rommel, Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, Munich D-81675, Germany; e-mail: [email protected]