With many celebrating St. Patrick’s Day earlier this week, I was inspired to write about the connection between alcohol and oral health. While I am quite certain that many will not be pleased to learn that there is indeed a strong relationship between the two, I believe it is important to know the negative impact that drinking – especially excessive drinking – can have on not only one’s general health, but on one’s oral health as well.
Higher risk of cavities
Alcoholic drinks contain very high levels of sugars and starches. When they combine with the mouth’s natural bacteria, an acid is formed that attacks the teeth’s enamel, thereby causing cavities.
Dry mouth
Saliva plays an important role in maintaining good dental health. In its absence, cavities can easily form as there is nothing to wash away harmful sugars and starches. That’s why alcohol can be especially hard on teeth. It dehydrates your entire body and reduces saliva flow while at the same time, exposing your teeth to its high levels of sugars and starches, giving them ample opportunity to attack your teeth as there’s not enough saliva to wash them away. Dry mouth is often the end result.
Increased risk of cancer
Numerous research studies have found evidence that heavy drinkers are at a greater risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pharynx and larynx. Furthermore, all types of alcohol – wine, beer and hard liquor – have been shown to present equal risk factors.
Increased risk of periodontal disease
The more one drinks, the more likely one is to have periodontal, or gum disease. This can be attributed not only to the direct affects that alcohol has on one’s body, but also on the correlation that exists between drinking and oral care. Individuals who are heavy drinkers are often more likely to neglect their mouths.
Poor healing after gum surgery
Heavy drinkers will likely find that implants fail more often and that they take longer to heal after undergoing gum surgery.
Reduced tolerance for oral freezing
Those who drink excessively are often more difficult to freeze and therefore require more injections of local anaesthesia.
Tooth erosion
When drinking gets heavy enough that it causes vomiting and food refluxing into the mouth, teeth can quickly become eroded by coming into recurring contact with stomach acids.
Bad breath
We all know what it’s like to smell the breath of someone who has been drinking. It’s not pleasant.
Mouth sores
Heavy drinking can also cause swollen tongues, mouth ulcers and swollen salivary glands.
Limiting the damage
Of course, the most obvious advice here for heavy drinkers is to cut down on if not eliminate alcohol consumption completely. You’ll be doing your body and your mouth a huge favour.
However, even for the occasional drinker, there are some things you can do to lessen the impact that alcohol can have on your mouth:
- After drinking, be sure to brush and floss. The worst thing (albeit the most tempting) after a night of drinking is to come home and hit the pillow. Don’t do it! Just a few minutes of brushing and flossing can save you a lot of grief down the road.
- While you are drinking, keep your hydration levels up with glasses of water, and every so often, swish the water around your mouth to rinse away those harmful sugars and acids.
- Chew gum to stimulate saliva flow after drinking.
Steven Deskin is a Brantford Dentist in general practice
