Nearly 10% of people aged 12+ in California reported cocaine use within the past year. When you think of the effects of cocaine, what comes to mind? You might think about a burst of energy. Maybe you think about anxiety and paranoia. There are many side effects of cocaine, but did you know that it can impact your jaw and dental health?
Our team here at Pacific Sands is dedicated to helping our community find recovery from substance use. Our intimate facility extends its solution-focused approach to those who haven’t walked through our door by making educational content to enlighten people on the truth about substance use. Today we’re going to talk about cocaine, coke jaw, and how it can affect your health.
What Is Coke Jaw?
The term “coke jaw” refers to a collection of symptoms that can affect your jaw and mouth because of regular cocaine consumption. How exactly does it happen? How else can it impact you? Is there a way to fix it?
How Does Coke Jaw Happen?
Coke jaw doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from long-term cocaine consumption. It occurs primarily from smoking cocaine or rubbing it on your gums. Over time, this can lead to deterioration of your gums, teeth enamel, and more.
Additionally, this condition can be worsened by a lack of self-care and hygiene. Many people who develop a substance use disorder get to a point where their personal hygiene needs take a backseat. Combining a lessened dental hygiene routine with the negative effects of cocaine on your mouth can make coke jaw worse or hasten the effects of it.
Common Conditions and Side Effects That Accompany Coke Jaw
As we mentioned earlier, coke jaw doesn’t refer to a single side effect but rather a potential collection of side effects that all impact the mouth and jaw. We’re going to break down some of the most pressing side effects to highlight how coke jaw happens and how it can impact you.
Dry Mouth
The term “dry mouth” might sound innocuous, but it can come with a myriad of other negative side effects. Dry mouth comes from a reduction of saliva production in the mouth. Saliva is important for protecting our teeth. It not only helps reduce bacteria and acidic levels but it also helps repair tooth enamel. Unaddressed dry mouth can make coke jaw worsen.
Perforation of the Oral Palate
When someone has a perforation of the oral palate, this means there is a hole that connects the nasal cavity to the inside of the mouth. This deterioration occurs with both oral and nasal cocaine consumption. With a perforation comes difficulties smelling, speech problems, and a regurgitation of food and water through the nose.
Dental Erosion
Both dry mouth and oral cocaine consumption can negatively impact the teeth. Dental erosion can cause continuous pain and sensitivity. It can also make both eating and drinking difficult or painful.
Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
The term temporomandibular specifically refers to a joint within the jaw known as the temporomandibular joint. TMD is a collection of nearly 30 conditions that can impact the jaw. These cause pain and dysfunction within the jaw. Some of the signs of TMD include:
- Popping or clicking sounds when you move your jaw
- Pain in the muscles when chewing
- Pain that spreads to the face and neck
- Limited or locked jaw movement
- Ringing in the ears
- Hearing loss
- Vertigo
- A change in how your teeth fit together
TMD and any of the conditions within it can occur from many forms of cocaine consumption. Smoke in the mouth, cocaine on the gums, and cocaine within the nasal cavities all come into contact with areas around the jaw and mouth. All of these pose risks to the health of the mouth, gums, and bones.
Can You Treat Coke Jaw at Home?
Depending on how far along your symptoms of coke jaw are, there are some things you can do at home to help lessen the effects.
The most important thing you can do is to take continued and conscious care of your teeth. This means regular brushing and maintenance. If you’re already experiencing tooth decay, make sure you speak with a dentist to ensure that your teeth care routine won’t negatively affect any damage you already have.
For managing dry mouth, reducing coffee, soda, and alcohol consumption will help to prevent further reduction of the saliva production in your mouth. Additionally, staying hydrated will help to reduce any effects of dry mouth and encourage saliva production.
The most effective thing you can do to address coke jaw is to stop cocaine consumption altogether. We know that’s easier said than done, so let’s talk about the steps you can take to look into recovery.
Finding Treatment for Coke Jaw and Cocaine Use in California
Whether you’ve personally experienced the negative effects of coke jaw, or you’re concerned about a loved one’s cocaine use disorder, there’s no wrong reason to look into recovery options. No matter your history with cocaine, whether you’ve taken a chance on recovery before and are coming back to try again, there’s no wrong time to get started.
Here in California, there are many recovery centers and treatment options that are available to help you on your recovery journey. How do you know which one is best? What makes a facility good or bad?
When looking for a facility that will suit your needs, you’ll want to consider if you’re looking for a program that offers a cocaine detox treatment. Additionally, how long do you want to have support available? There are inpatient and outpatient services available for recovery from a cocaine use disorder. Both offer high levels of treatment and care with the difference being if you stay on-site during treatment or if you stay at home.
Of course, you can always transition from inpatient care to outpatient care. This can be helpful for those with a higher need for a flexible schedule who want to receive ongoing support and care while still being with family or attending work.
No matter your needs, our team here at Pacific Sands is ready to work with you. We want to see you succeed in treatment. As a high-end, private facility, we are able to work one-on-one with our clients to help ensure your unique needs are met and that you get the care and attention you deserve. There’s no wrong time to get started, so give us a call today at 949-426-7962.
Pacific Sands – The first step towards a new life.
FAQs About Coke Jaw
- What is coke jaw?
Coke jaw is a collection of symptoms that impact your jaw and mouth that occur because of cocaine use. This can include dry mouth, tooth decay, perforations in the roof of your mouth, and gum disease.
- Can you treat coke jaw yourself?
Staying hydrated and reducing the intake of sugary and caffeinated beverages can help improve your oral health. Additionally, alcohol and smoking can worsen the effects of coke jaw. The only true way to address coke jaw, however, is by stopping the consumption of cocaine.
