What Does Alcohol Do to Your Teeth? Alcohol Effects on Teeth

Alcohol is bad for your health – it has always been and will always be. Its consumption can cause a variety of health issues, mostly though related to the kidney and their functioning. In the same way, it harms your dental health in different ways.

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5 ways alcohol can harm your teeth

Alcohol can have negative effects on your teeth, gums and mouth together. Even moderate consumption is not good as you should avoid that altogether. You can rather switch to water and get more benefits than the bad habit of drinking alcohol. If you want healthy teeth, it’s better not to drink wine ever.

Tooth Decay

Excessive consumption of alcohol is fraught with risks for your dental health. If you are a moderate drinker, it can help minimize problems for sure. In the long run, drinking alcohol can lead to tooth decay as the acid can make the enamel tear and wear gradually. People who drink alcohol are also at a greater risk for mouth sores and gum disease. So, don’t drink it and rather look to maintain your oral health.

Oral Cancer

Smoking alone is not the factor behind oral cancer. Even alcohol can increase the risk of oral cancer. Several studies in the past have confirmed a direct link between oral cancer and consumption of alcohol. It does not matter whether you’re a heavy or moderate drinker, the acid and other chemicals present in wine are always harmful for your teeth and it’s better you stay away from them.

Staining

Acids in alcohol are not the only thing to worry about. There will be elements that give the drink its color. They can seep into the pores of enamel to stain the teeth over time. Unless the contact between teeth and alcohol is avoided, there will always be a risk of staining and you should understand that well. And when you add soda to the drink, it harms even more due to presence of color agents and sugars.

Dryness

Drinking alcohol can cause dry mouth. It affects the way our body uses water causing dehydration. And when the body is dehydrated, it sends saliva level down leading to a risk of acid attack. With less saliva, your breath can start to stink and if the problem persists, it can even lead to tooth decay over time. With dry mouth comes the risk of more plaque and bacteria promoting gum disease and leading to total teeth loss over time.

Cracked or Chipped Teeth

Even though alcohol is not directly related to cracked or chipped teeth, the habit can force us there as most drinkers do chew on ice as well. That apart, the repeated acids from the drink can hurt the enamel over a period of time to pose dental health risks. You however should benefit from family dentistry in a regular manner and keep this problem away. And yes, not drinking alcohol can help you maintain superior dental health for sure.