Meth users suffer dental problems, "meth mouth" - GoFuckYourself.com

The Bootyologist · 02-05-2005, 02:35 PM

Meth users suffer dental problems, "meth mouth"

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Matt Sefensky

Feb. 5, 2005 | MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- Jeffery Lotshaw flossed regularly. He brushed faithfully, sometimes four or five times in a day.

All that care makes his condition seem incomprehensible -- at the age of just 33, Lotshaw's grin is toothless. His teeth all broke apart, tarnished with yellow and black.

"Before I started doing meth, I didn't have a cavity in my head," said Lotshaw, imprisoned on drug charges at Missouri's Maryville Treatment Center.

The growing use of highly addictive methamphetamine throughout the country is creating a prominent scar on an increasing number of users -- rotting, brittle teeth that seem to crumble from their mouths.

Methamphetamine can be made with a horrid mix of substances, including over-the-counter cold medicine, fertilizer, battery acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Together, the chemicals reduce a user's saliva, which neutralizes acids and physically clears food from the teeth, said Dr. Eric Curtis, an Arizona-based spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry.

"When the saliva isn't flowing, the bacteria build up a lot faster," said Dr. Darrell Morton, an Atlanta dentist.

Meth users also may neglect their teeth, or moisten their dry mouths with high-sugar drinks, and anxiety caused by the drug prompts them to grind their teeth, which speeds decay.

The problem is particularly noticeable among inmates, whose oral problems have some prison systems struggling to provide dental care.

"They're rotting teeth, missing teeth, rotting way into the gums," said Kathy Bachmeier, the head of medical services for North Dakota's prisons. "It's ugly."

There are no statistics on "meth mouth" -- as the condition has come to be known -- because addicts are sometimes reluctant to admit their drug use and because it is difficult to distinguish between damage done by bad dental hygiene and that caused by narcotics. But there are signs it is on the rise around the country.

The head of the company in charge of dental care for Missouri inmates says he is seeing teeth rotted by meth use nearly every day. In North Dakota, the number of days a dentist was serving inmates jumped from 50 in 2000 to 78 in 2004. And the tab for inmates' dental care in Minnesota rose from $1.2 million five years ago to about $2 million last year.

"There are more and more urgent care needs, which pushes back routine care like cleanings," said Nanette Schroeder, director of health services for Minnesota's Corrections Department. "They're seeing just worse mouths, generally. This is really an emerging problem."

Missouri pays a company $7.50 per day per prisoner for health care, regardless of what's needed, so no major cost increase has been incurred.

"My dentists always opt for the best treatment we could offer our patients, as we would in private practice," said Dr. Ernest Jackson, whose Jefferson City-based company is in charge of dental care for Missouri prisons.

But that philosophy isn't necessarily at play everywhere.

Schroeder said there's a constant juggling act between constitutional obligations to inmates, costs and the risk of lawsuits.

"Do we always think that it's fair to provide some services to our offender population that people on the outside might not get? Of course not," Schroeder said. "On the other hand, we have to balance that with the risk."

Bryan Rogers, another inmate at the Maryville facility, which is exclusively for convicts with drug problems, said he noticed other users' teeth were rotting but made sure he brushed regularly.

"I was always thinking that's not going to happen to me because I keep brushing," he said.

Rogers, 30, has had three teeth pulled since arriving at the prison in August, and he's awaiting a dental plate. Lotshaw's last 11 teeth have been removed since arriving, also in August, and he's waiting for dentures.

Lotshaw has been drug-free for more than five months, but there's no denying what is to blame for his empty mouth.

"It reminds me a lot of my addiction," he said.

Manowar · 02-05-2005, 02:45 PM

You play with fire, you get burned

SinSational · 02-05-2005, 02:46 PM

that's a good reason to stop meth.

Rui · 02-05-2005, 03:00 PM

Methheads have lots more problems besides getting their teeth fucked up...

the Shemp · 02-05-2005, 03:17 PM

i have wooden teeth...

Harmon · 02-05-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Shemp

i have wooden teeth...

LMAAAAAAAAO! Come on Shemp, ya ain't THAT old you sly dog you.

L0rdJuni0r · 02-05-2005, 03:21 PM

i stick to my green stuff

uno · 02-05-2005, 03:30 PM

Heroin users usually get really funky mouths also.

Big Red Machine · 02-05-2005, 03:35 PM

Yum Yum can I score some ..........dam thats nasty Mush mouth,But on a brighter note maybe theres a few young cute meth head chicks that are toothless that could be a good site "Young Gummers"

dready · 02-05-2005, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rui

Methheads have lots more problems besides getting their teeth fucked up...

Couldn't say it better myself.

TurboAngel · 02-05-2005, 03:41 PM

Fuck them getting dental treatment, I say let them suffer in pain. I'm sure they made people suffer before.

Persius · 02-05-2005, 03:43 PM

meth mouth.. hmm interesting

Jace · 02-05-2005, 03:51 PM

nothing new here really...anyone who has ever been around meth users knows this...

and nowadays, it is hard not to meet meth users...shit, moms and dads are doing it to help keep them awake when they have kids

I guarantee you all know at least one person that secretly does some form of illegal meth

rowan · 02-05-2005, 06:58 PM

$7.50 per day per prisoner for health care...

$2737.50 is a nice margin for a health insurance premium!

digifan · 02-05-2005, 07:19 PM

Another good reason to avoid drugs.

Furious_Male · 02-05-2005, 07:21 PM

Ok that settles it. No Meth for me.

smack · 02-05-2005, 07:22 PM

also called geek stink breath. green day wrote a whole song bout it.

Icon · 02-05-2005, 07:40 PM

was it the meth? or prison dick?

Rui · 02-06-2005, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaceXXX

nothing new here really...anyone who has ever been around meth users knows this...

and nowadays, it is hard not to meet meth users...shit, moms and dads are doing it to help keep them awake when they have kids

I guarantee you all know at least one person that secretly does some form of illegal meth

Exactly, that shit is taking by storm people everywhere...tho in USA its really fucked up, I mean people I know tell me there are several home-meth-labs in their neigborhood...shit

who · 02-06-2005, 06:52 AM

This thread is useless without pics.

myjah · 02-06-2005, 08:20 AM

Sounds like the same thing could happen from doing a variety of drugs. Either way it's yucky.

02-05-2005, 02:35 PM	#1
The Bootyologist So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: m00dville Posts: 2,912	Meth users suffer dental problems, "meth mouth" Meth users suffer dental problems, "meth mouth" - - - - - - - - - - - - By Matt Sefensky Feb. 5, 2005 \| MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- Jeffery Lotshaw flossed regularly. He brushed faithfully, sometimes four or five times in a day. All that care makes his condition seem incomprehensible -- at the age of just 33, Lotshaw's grin is toothless. His teeth all broke apart, tarnished with yellow and black. "Before I started doing meth, I didn't have a cavity in my head," said Lotshaw, imprisoned on drug charges at Missouri's Maryville Treatment Center. The growing use of highly addictive methamphetamine throughout the country is creating a prominent scar on an increasing number of users -- rotting, brittle teeth that seem to crumble from their mouths. Methamphetamine can be made with a horrid mix of substances, including over-the-counter cold medicine, fertilizer, battery acid and hydrogen peroxide. Together, the chemicals reduce a user's saliva, which neutralizes acids and physically clears food from the teeth, said Dr. Eric Curtis, an Arizona-based spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry. "When the saliva isn't flowing, the bacteria build up a lot faster," said Dr. Darrell Morton, an Atlanta dentist. Meth users also may neglect their teeth, or moisten their dry mouths with high-sugar drinks, and anxiety caused by the drug prompts them to grind their teeth, which speeds decay. The problem is particularly noticeable among inmates, whose oral problems have some prison systems struggling to provide dental care. "They're rotting teeth, missing teeth, rotting way into the gums," said Kathy Bachmeier, the head of medical services for North Dakota's prisons. "It's ugly." There are no statistics on "meth mouth" -- as the condition has come to be known -- because addicts are sometimes reluctant to admit their drug use and because it is difficult to distinguish between damage done by bad dental hygiene and that caused by narcotics. But there are signs it is on the rise around the country. The head of the company in charge of dental care for Missouri inmates says he is seeing teeth rotted by meth use nearly every day. In North Dakota, the number of days a dentist was serving inmates jumped from 50 in 2000 to 78 in 2004. And the tab for inmates' dental care in Minnesota rose from $1.2 million five years ago to about $2 million last year. "There are more and more urgent care needs, which pushes back routine care like cleanings," said Nanette Schroeder, director of health services for Minnesota's Corrections Department. "They're seeing just worse mouths, generally. This is really an emerging problem." Missouri pays a company $7.50 per day per prisoner for health care, regardless of what's needed, so no major cost increase has been incurred. "My dentists always opt for the best treatment we could offer our patients, as we would in private practice," said Dr. Ernest Jackson, whose Jefferson City-based company is in charge of dental care for Missouri prisons. But that philosophy isn't necessarily at play everywhere. Schroeder said there's a constant juggling act between constitutional obligations to inmates, costs and the risk of lawsuits. "Do we always think that it's fair to provide some services to our offender population that people on the outside might not get? Of course not," Schroeder said. "On the other hand, we have to balance that with the risk." Bryan Rogers, another inmate at the Maryville facility, which is exclusively for convicts with drug problems, said he noticed other users' teeth were rotting but made sure he brushed regularly. "I was always thinking that's not going to happen to me because I keep brushing," he said. Rogers, 30, has had three teeth pulled since arriving at the prison in August, and he's awaiting a dental plate. Lotshaw's last 11 teeth have been removed since arriving, also in August, and he's waiting for dentures. Lotshaw has been drug-free for more than five months, but there's no denying what is to blame for his empty mouth. "It reminds me a lot of my addiction," he said.

02-05-2005, 02:46 PM	#3
SinSational Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,723	that's a good reason to stop meth. __________________ ICQ# 273099174 - monthly specials - 2 Month Free Credit on All Plans - 100% Referrals - chris@ for details Virtual from $14.95/month, Dedicated from $149.95/month Dual-Core Xeon > 1000GB @ $149.95 \| 1500GB @ $169.95 \| 10Mbps @ $269.95

02-05-2005, 03:17 PM	#5
the Shemp congrats to the winners Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Echo Beach Posts: 10,891	i have wooden teeth... __________________ i use Vacares...so should you Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

02-05-2005, 03:21 PM	#7
L0rdJuni0r Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cancun, Mexico Posts: 5,883	i stick to my green stuff __________________ Affordable video and picture editing. junior[at]jampackproductions[DOT]com ICQ: 605429331

02-05-2005, 03:30 PM	#8
uno RIP Dodger. BEST.CAT.EVER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Area Posts: 18,450	Heroin users usually get really funky mouths also. __________________ -uno icq: 111-914 CrazyBabe.com - porn art MojoHost - For all your hosting needs, present and future. Tell them I sent ya!

02-05-2005, 02:45 PM	#2
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	You play with fire, you get burned

02-05-2005, 03:00 PM	#4
Rui web Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: On icq: 85-483-060 Posts: 9,533	Methheads have lots more problems besides getting their teeth fucked up...

02-05-2005, 03:35 PM	#9
Big Red Machine Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: XXXBigRed@Twitter Posts: 9,586	Yum Yum can I score some ..........dam thats nasty Mush mouth,But on a brighter note maybe theres a few young cute meth head chicks that are toothless that could be a good site "Young Gummers" __________________ ICQ:475437214

02-05-2005, 03:41 PM	#11
TurboAngel H.B.I.C. Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NC Posts: 30,122	Fuck them getting dental treatment, I say let them suffer in pain. I'm sure they made people suffer before.

02-05-2005, 03:43 PM	#12
Persius Tap into MOBILE! Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hollywood Posts: 11,779	meth mouth.. hmm interesting

02-05-2005, 03:51 PM	#13
Jace FBOP Class Of 2013 Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: bumfuck, ky Posts: 35,562	nothing new here really...anyone who has ever been around meth users knows this... and nowadays, it is hard not to meet meth users...shit, moms and dads are doing it to help keep them awake when they have kids I guarantee you all know at least one person that secretly does some form of illegal meth

02-05-2005, 06:58 PM	#14
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	$7.50 per day per prisoner for health care... $2737.50 is a nice margin for a health insurance premium!

02-05-2005, 07:19 PM	#15
digifan The Profiler Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ICQ 76281726 and I'm female Posts: 14,618	Another good reason to avoid drugs. __________________ [email protected] Webair Rocks

02-05-2005, 07:21 PM	#16
Furious_Male Doing the grind since 99 Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 16,883	Ok that settles it. No Meth for me. __________________ Living in Virtual Reality Contact: Email (preferred): furiousmale .at. gmail - Skype: live:shanedws

02-05-2005, 07:22 PM	#17
smack Push Porn Like Weight. Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Inside .NET Posts: 10,652	also called geek stink breath. green day wrote a whole song bout it. __________________ Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

02-05-2005, 07:40 PM	#18
Icon Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The watercooler of life tripping balls with NPH Posts: 1,757	was it the meth? or prison dick? __________________ Icon Professional Shark Wrestler ICQ: 214 674 095 "I see Brown people"

02-06-2005, 06:52 AM	#20
who So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ICQ #23642053 Posts: 19,593	This thread is useless without pics.

02-06-2005, 08:20 AM	#21
myjah Back in the harbor Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 11,482	Sounds like the same thing could happen from doing a variety of drugs. Either way it's yucky. __________________ VP of Marketing AVN Media Network Skype: AVNJill [email protected]