'METH MOUTH' IS SIGN OF ABUSE

Hockey players are often stereotyped as having a few teeth missing,
but meth users are more likely to have this dental problem.

"Meth mouth" results in serious destruction caused by the harsh
components in methamphetamine and users quickly abandoning oral hygiene.

Some of the main ingredients used in the production of meth, such as
lithium and muriatic and sulfuric acids, are extremely corrosive.

Meth awareness and prevention Web sites report that when a person
smokes meth, those substances heat up because of vaporization and the
skin inside the mouth gets irritated and burned. This creates sores.
A meth user's lack of attention to personal hygiene allows for
infections in these sores.

Louisville-based oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. James Strull said
other side effects of 'meth mouth' are gum disease, cracked teeth,
dry mouth and tooth decay.

Strull said gum disease is a result of meth causing the vessels that
supply blood to oral tissues to shrink. Because the blood supply is
reduced, the tissues break down. This continuous process disables the
vessels from recovery, causing them to die.

Strull said cracked teeth are a symptom directly related to the
drug's effect on the nervous system. Meth users often feel anxious or
nervous during their "high," causing them to clinch and grind their
teeth. This forms cracks, he said.

Also over time, the effects of the vapor caused by the heating of the
meth ingredients cause tooth enamel to decay and teeth frequently rot
all the way to the gum line, he said.

"The only option 'meth mouth' patients have are implants or false
teeth," Strull said. "But it is such a bad physical addiction that
most of them simply can't take care of themselves. We only offer
these options to those who have been clean for a relatively long time
and those who have made a serious commitment to improving their life
and their teeth."

Another side effect of using meth is commonly called the "sweet tooth."

Dr. Kris Krawiec, a private practitioner from Louisville, said meth
users yearn for caffeine and sugar. Mostly, they turn to liquids for
their fix. This makes teeth become very soft and decay into small
black nubs, he said.

Dentists throughout the country have become more aware of the
destructiveness of meth on the mouth. Most dental schools now offer
continuing education courses licensed practitioners must take.

"This has certainly become a big issue," Krawiec said. "In my career,
I have gone from being oblivious to the devastation of the drug to
understanding that I must learn how to handle 'meth mouth' because it
is becoming an epidemic."

Erica Hardy is a junior broadcasting major from Shepherdsville.