I have always been scared of the dentist that is until I came to Dentael. The staff are so understanding and supportive and made me feel so at ease. Everything is explained clearly and there is no pressure. Thank you to the team for being so lovely.
How Does Alcohol Affect Oral Health?
Understanding the effects of alcohol on your teeth, gums and mouth
How does alcohol affect oral health?
Drinking alcohol on a regular basis negatively affects our oral health as well as our overall health. Generally speaking, people consuming alcohol fall into three categories – those who consume in moderation, those who abuse alcohol and those with alcohol dependence.
Alcohol consumption effects on our body
Alcohol consumption has been linked to more than sixty diseases including heart disease, stroke, liver cancer, breast cancer, depression and anxiety, epilepsy and liver cirrhosis.
Alcohol consumption effects on our mouth
Mouth Cancer & Injury Risk
Drinking alcohol regularly in excess is associated with the development of some mouth cancers.
Being drunk increases the risk of injuries to the face or other parts of the body due to falls, road traffic accidents and violence.
Tooth Decay & Erosion
Increased risk of tooth decay due to the sugar, starch and acids contained in alcoholic drinks and mixers. When the sugars combine with the plaque bacteria within the mouth, acids are formed that can soften and damage the teeth.
Although natural saliva in the mouth helps to reduce damage by washing away bacteria and neutralising the acids, alcohol has a drying effect on the mouth reducing the amount of saliva flow and its protective effects.
The acids in alcohol and mixer drinks cause erosive tooth wear. This occurs by loss of the outer tooth layer of enamel resulting in exposure of the softer inner dentine.
Gum Disease
Increased risk of gum disease due to lapse in cleaning teeth regularly and effectively. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss. It is also linked to other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Tips to reduce tooth damage caused by alcohol
- Reducing the consumption of alcohol is an obvious way of preventing many of the problems associated with it.
- Risk of tooth decay and erosive tooth wear may be reduced by sipping water alongside alcoholic drinks, mixing with soda water instead of sugary soft drinks, using a straw to limit direct contact on teeth, and chewing sugar free gum to stimulate saliva production and minimise tooth damage.
- Visiting the dentist regularly to have teeth professionally cleaned and hygiene advice to help control plaque build up and prevent gum disease.
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Conveniently Located
Our modern dental clinic is conveniently located in Ealing Greenford Perivale.
If you’re concerned about the effects of alcohol on your oral health, book an appointment with our experienced, friendly dentist for a thorough check-up and professional advice.
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