Mind your mouth

So many people struggle with alcohol and drug abuse and suffer from mental health problems. Poor mental health and risky behaviors can be devastating to the body and lead to poor physical health, including poor oral health.

Depression and stress can cause people to grind their teeth to the point of fracture. Eating disorders, like bulimia and anorexia nervosa, where the person throws up frequently, can cause tooth erosion, problems with the tongue, and difficulty swallowing . 

Tobacco use leads to stained teeth and eventually causes tooth loss because the gums and jaw bone have been affected. Pot users experience dry mouth and greenish-black staining on the teeth. Because marijuana burns at a hotter temperature than tobacco, pot smokers subject the tissue of their mouths to a high degree of heat. Research has now shown that e-cigarettes and vape are also damaging to the health, whether or not they contain nicotine (E-cigs may be useful in helping smokers quit, but more research is needed.)

Alcohol abuse dries out the tissues of the mouth and can damage the salivary glands. Use of alcohol and tobacco together are known to put people at higher risk for oral and throat cancers. Drinkers who also smoke are at a seventy-times higher risk of developing cancer versus those who use either tobacco or alcohol alone. 

People who use drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin, experience a multitude of dental health problems including stained and decayed teeth, loose teeth, dry mouth, inflammation of the mouth and gums, and sinus problems.

Drug and alcohol abuse affect every part of a person’s overall health but there are many ways to get help. If you are struggling with an addiction or feeling overwhelmed, please speak with someone today. You can’t keep your body healthy if your mind is hurting.

January 22 - 28 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. For resource and other information visit: 

https://www.ncadd.org/blogs/in-the-news/national-drug-and-alcohol-facts-week-ndafw-is-coming-january-22-28-2018

additional source: Kisely S. No Mental Health without Oral Health. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie. 2016;61(5):277-282. doi:10.1177/0706743716632523.

This blog is not intended to treat or cure any disease. If you need medical or dental treatment, please seek the help of a doctor or dentist.