We all enjoy our nightly drink following our belief of a good night’s sleep. But how much is that drink exactly affecting us? Besides the obvious health concerns regarding liver cirrhosis and fluid imbalances, the teeth are also directly affected. While pure alcohol itself is harmless to our teeth, the bottles at the liquor store can hardly be considered pure alcohol.
Alcohol abuse and cavities
One of the most common issues with the modern adult is alcohol abuse. The age restrictions don’t stop most high schoolers and minors to sneak beers with a fake ID. This widespread use is leading to an alarming number of dental cases which leads to the question – how harmful is alcohol abuse for our teeth?
Most alcoholic drinks have sugar and other coloring additives. It’s these additives that are very harmful to your dental health.- Alcohol does not directly affect your teeth, but the additives are more than enough to promote bacterial growth in your teeth. The sugar content helps to break down the enamel more effectively and the color additives can stain your teeth.
- One of the most common effects of alcohol on teeth would be a result of dehydration. Alcoholic drinks restrict the flow of saliva and the fluid balance in your body. This causes dehydration and you will feel as if you have a dry mouth. The absence of saliva causes bacteria and plaque to form easily and will subsequently lead to cavities and tooth decay.
- he drinks directly affect any soft cartilage which, sadly, is most of the gums in the mouth.
Most alcoholic drinks have sugar and other coloring additives. It’s these additives that are very harmful to your dental health.Most adults deal with a much polluted environment considering the conditions of the modern world. Add the harmful effects of alcohol and you have with yourself a recipe for disaster!
Who’s the real enemy here?
It has been established that alcohol the chemical is not a threat to your dental health. Staying off the nightly cocktail is probably better for your health. You need to consider the acidic levels of each drink in order to ensure that your dental health is somewhat safe from these effects.
Wine is definitely acidic and will roughen up your enamel enough to wear it down.- Drinking too much will cause vomiting and cause the gastric acids in the stomach to flow through your mouth. These acids have the same effect.
- Too much drinking also leads to falling asleep and your mouth remains exposed in that toxic environment until you brush the next morning.
- While you dig that daiquiri, the color of your teeth will definitely change the following morning after your third glass!
- By now, if you’re thinking that tequila shots are your last hope, consider what that burning sip of liquid washing down your throat will do to your gums along the way.
Wine is definitely acidic and will roughen up your enamel enough to wear it down.
The best defense against decay
Like every potentially fatal condition, you can always defend against tooth decay from alcohol abuse. The key is good hygiene and strong morals as always. Alcohol is addictive and it’s no surprise that quitting is hard. You will need a lot of mental strength to even reduce your daily intake to one or two drinks per day. Keeping to a good hygiene will help you regulate your dental health and not have it affected as much from your drinking habits. Moderation is the best course of action in this matter, and while quitting will benefit you the most, you can still indulge on occasions without much concern about your dental health if you have maintained a unflappable hygienic routine.
Source: www.perio.org, www.colgate.com, www.thefix.com
Image Source: www.medicaldaily.com
