What Drug Makes You Grind Your Teeth?

The Surprising Answers on Drugs That Induce Tooth Grinding

Did you know that teeth grinding can become a “destructive habit” if you don’t get the right dental treatment? It is a distressing condition that can lead to oral pain and even severe tooth decay. It is a distressing condition, often linked to drug use.

Many people experience jaw clenching or teeth grinding due to stress or even sleep disorders. However, certain addictive substances like recreational drugs can cause that too. For instance, did you know that ‘meth mouth’ symptoms (due to methamphetamine abuse) can also co-occur with sleep bruxism?

But what is the ultimate answer to the question of ‘What drug makes you grind your teeth?”

It often starts with mild jaw clenching and tooth wear which slowly turns into jaw pain. However, many people underestimate the impact on long-term oral health. We will take a closer look at how different substances – most often stimulant drugs – can lead to teeth grinding.

At the same time, we’ll discuss how Icarus Behavioral Health can help you find the right treatment options for substance use disorders – along with treatment for disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that are often the underlying causes of stimulant abuse.

What Drugs Cause Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)?

There are different kinds of drugs that can lead to teeth grinding – or as some experts will refer to as “temporomandibular disorders” or “temporomandibular joint pain”. We will start with a few common illicit drugs like cocaine and crystal meth.

Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the very powerful stimulants that can lead to suddenly clenching your jaw, with coke causing jaw pain and gum problems. It affects your central nervous system and increases the dopamine levels – i.e., leads to euphoric sensations.

The surge of euphoria is a direct result of the dopamine spike, which causes high alertness and high energy. Moreover, cocaine use is very notorious for trigger jaw clenching and teeth grinding (often leading to sleep bruxism).

It happens because the cocaine users feel a common symptom, a heightened state of tension. This causes the masticatory muscles to contract (involuntarily). If it continues as an addiction, teeth clenching can lead to tooth damage and gum disease, including tooth enamel erosion.

Methamphetamine

Some people confuse crystal meth with heroin in terms of the damage done to the teeth. That’s often because heroin users also have poor oral health and the same symptoms of dry mouth. However, the term “meth mouth” is more frequently in use for people struggling with methamphetamine or “crystal” abuse.

Meth is another stimulant drug that leads to oral health issues, including ‘waking bruxism’. This is where a person will be teeth grinding excessively even while fully conscious. It happens because the meth overstimulates your brain and causes intense jaw clenching.

It reduces saliva production, according to a study. And, that is what leads to the “dry mouth” condition and further damage to the oral health. Furthermore, there are other symptoms and damaging effects of meth abuse:

• Severe tooth damage due to decay
• Gum disease
• Movement disorder
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

MDMA (Ecstasy)

The most common name for this drug is “ecstasy”, or “molly,” especially among the club goers. However, its scientific name is “3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine” and it also causes jaw joint pain and clenching.

The MDMA is an amphetamine drug that functions by affecting the dopamine and serotonin receptors in your body.  This increases the motor activity.  As a result, this leads to involuntary clenching of the jaw muscles among other side effects.

Other side effects, which may appear with extended use of MDMA, are tooth wear and gum problems. It then becomes hard to maintain good oral hygiene, especially if you mix it with other illegal drugs or chemicals.

Some frequent clubgoers and ecstasy users employ methods to offset this effect, including using pacifiers to lessen the immediate damage to their jaws and teeth, but this does little to diminish grinding behaviors once asleep.

Do Prescription Medications Also Lead to Jaw Clenching or Bruxism?

The American Dental Association indicate that both cocaine and meth abuse can lead to bruxism. However, we also learned in the systematic review that there are some medications that also cause that. For example, stress and depression are two of the most common symptoms of substance abuse.

In order to treat such mental health issues, specialists often prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  However, this form of medication has a few side effects – like bruxism.

It usually happens because the medication affects the “serotonin pathways”. In turn, that affects the motor functions of the jaw muscles. This leads to involuntary clenching. For that, an expert at Icarus might recommend medication cessation or medication management in finding an alternative if you can’t tolerate dose reduction.

What Causes Excessive Teeth Grinding?

There are various causes behind teeth grinding or bruxism. For instance, some people experience bruxism due to drug abuse, while others simply struggle with it due to psychiatric disorders or genetic predisposition.

Drug Use

If you or someone among your loved ones is struggling with a form of stimulant drug abuse, chances are that they are also facing conditions like bruxism. Seeking the right form of treatment at Icarus Behavioral Health is important for putting your well-being over substances or addictive behaviors.

Stress and Anxiety

Sometimes, emotional distress or psychological issues can lead to jaw clenching or bruxism. Many experience it during both awake and sleeping hours.

Sleep Disorders

A scientific study also revealed that certain sleep disorders can lead to bruxism. For instance, there is a noticeable link between sleep apnea and bruxism, based on research.

Does Teeth Grinding Affect Oral Health and Cause Tooth Decay?

Yes, it can affect your overall health – and lead to tooth decay – if you leave it untreated for long. It can slowly progress and lead to tooth loss because severe grinding can weaken the tooth. After that, the options become either extraction or frequent or even chronic jaw pain.

Can You Prevent Bruxism?

It is possible to prevent bruxism, but the way you do it depends on several factors. For instance, what is the cause of teeth clenching or bruxism? Is it addiction to recreational drugs, abuse of medications, or a rare medical condition?

This will help you get the proper treatment to address the underlying issues – and promote overall oral health with overall well-being. But there are a few ways to overcome bruxism.

• Regular dental checkups – This is where you have a dentist monitor any early signs of grinding or clenching. They can share case reports of their review to help you understand and monitor for signs too.
• Stress management – Issues like anxiety and stress can lead to awake and sleep bruxism. For that, you can try activities like meditation and yoga to reduce stress.
• Healthy lifestyle changes – You should avoid recreational drugs and help your struggling loved ones stay clear of such risks by encouraging healthy habits. A good way to start is adopting a balanced diet and exercise routines.

Getting the Right Help for Stimulant Recovery at Icarus Behavioral Health

Many people take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat a major depressive disorder. Unfortunately, without supervision or due to other health factors, bruxism episodes can occur.

Meanwhile, bruxism (both sleep and ‘awake bruxism’) can also be caused by mental health disorders and drug abuse (street drugs). Long-term effects include gum disease, erosion of dental enamel, and excruciating jaw pain.

It is time to get help if you or a friend or family member is struggling with addiction.  Since we know how hard it can be to overcome substance use alone, Icarus Behavioral Health offers all of our clients professional help.

Let us assist you in managing symptoms of drug misuse, such as anxiety and bruxism.  All calls are confidential, so please reach out for proven support options at Icarus today.