Dental Monthly
MARCH 2025 edition #44
I spy with my little eye
You know that we Dentists are experts in detecting all kinds of medical conditions just observing the soft and the hard tissues of the mouth. With the many years of practice and new scientific research, this expertise grows, so that the list of maladies detectable in the mouth gets longer.
Having participated in a very interesting WIN-meeting of October 9th 2024 on ADDICTION I would like to give a written contribution to this subject.
The most common and apparent of all addictions is SMOKING. It is evident because of the stains on the teeth the tongue. When a patient tells you he has given up, and that is not true, you can actually see that. Just like you can see the early stage of improvement of gum health. The smoker has a pale gum-colour with a rugged texture. This is the absolute tell all. They develop asymptomatical periodontitis with deep pockets and no bleeding, because of the severely diminished blood supply to the gums.
Excessive ALCOHOL use or abuse is recognizable not only by the stains on gums and teeth, but also by the specific breath odour. Furthermore when an alcoholic says he is always thirsty and has a dry mouth, it is the truth, because the salivary glands have shrunk and the lack of saliva gives this distinctive wrinkled cellophane appearance to the soft tissues. Often the teeth have jagged and eroded enamel. Erosion caused by the acids and sugars in all alcoholic drinks will leave your teeth transparent and yellow.
ENERGY DRINKS have high doses of caffeine, taurine, and other addictive stimulating components like loads of sugars. The acids and gas cause a fast and mutilating erosion of the enamel. A dissolving process that will leave opaque yellow and brown coloured jagged front teeth and full blown decay on the necks of the whole dentition. When I see young people or athletes with these lesions it is easy to find out that with 3 or more E-drinks a day, they are “addicted” without really knowing it. And I have to tell them to reduce their intake to save their dentition.
HARD DRUGS like ecstasy, cocaine and methamphetamine augment the enamel wear and TMJ-problems (clicks and pain in jaw articulation). People who consume these drugs on a regular base often grind and clench their teeth. In these cases, any BOTOX treatment is less effective to relax the muscles. Most of all anaesthesia does not work in these patients. They are already more or less numbed. This creates big difficulties and complications when treating these patients with more invasive procedures.
Abuse of anti-inflammatory MEDICATION just like drugs will give you a dry mouth and impaired anaesthesia.
Excessive CANNABIS use gives both a dry mouth as diffuse development decay lesions at the necks of the teeth. Cannabis makes people crave for sweets and sugary foods, which can have devastating effects on the enamel with no protective saliva in the mouth.
So you don’t want to tell lies to the Dentist, because she will know! ;))
If you have any questions, do reach out to STUDIO MOLL DENTAL CLINIC (contact details below) or reach out to Elena Moll during the WIN meetings.
Reference Dental Monthly Articles
I am not in the desert (dry mouth)
BIO
Studio Moll Contact Details and Social Media
Whatsapp: 331-6368628 | Tel: 055-755347
www.dental-studiomoll.com | info@dental-studiomoll.com
For more information, look up Studio Moll’s YouTube channel and here too.
Follow STUDIO MOLL on You Tube, Facebook, Instagram and Linked In
By Dr. Elena Speranza Moll
Studio Moll
Via Amilcare Ponchielli 21B, 50018 Scandicci –Firenze
Tel: 055-755347
WhatsApp: 331-6362682
Follow me on Youtube