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Frequent alcohol consumption can be detrimental to your health. It can affect your kidneys, impair your senses, and imbalance your brain capacity. The abuse of alcohol can even lead to serious illnesses such as liver disease, heart disease, pancreatitis, and even cancer.
Aside from affecting your organs, though, did you know that alcohol consumption can impact your oral health as well? Regular consumption of alcohol can put your oral health at risk. Aside from teeth loss, enamel damage, and the like, excessive alcohol can lead to oral cancer. Keep reading to learn more about the oral health issues related to alcohol abuse.
Teeth Loss, Decay, or Damage
Alcohol consumption can lead to teeth damage, decay, and even loss. This is because the alcohol content can damage the enamel layer and lead to gum soring. Constant consumption can leave your teeth exposed to food particles and bacteria. This can cause decay and lead to teeth damage such as holed, cracked, and broken teeth. When left unattended, it can even cause toothache and teeth loss. The smartest thing to do here is to control your alcohol intake and make a habit of rinsing your mouth immediately after having alcohol.
Dryness
Dryness in your mouth can also be brought by frequent alcohol drinking. The higher the alcohol content, the more drying the drink will be. The saliva in your mouth helps to keep your teeth moist, allowing for easy removal of plaque and bacteria from the tooth’s surface. Therefore, ensure that you stay hydrated by drinking water while consuming alcohol.
Bad Breath
Everyone knows how alcohol produces bad odor, making your mouth smell rather unpleasant. The roughness of alcohol dries your mouth, leading to even more bacteria build-up and plaque. This causes the severe bad breath associated with a night out. It’s most beneficial to rinse your mouth after drinking and ensure that you drink plenty of water. Use a toothpaste specially designed for drinkers as well as tooth mousse recommended by your dentist. These things will minimise the impact that the alcohol has on your teeth, but nothing is better than limiting the quantity you drink in the first place.
Mouth Skin Disease
It isn’t uncommon for heavy drinkers to have sores on their mouth when they imbibe excessively. This is because the drink can badly damage your cheek, lip, and tongue tissues. Even the frizz of soda can make your skin dry and rough, leading to scarring or peeling. It’s best to use a straw and dilute your drink with water but not with soda.
Oral Cancer
Last but not least, oral cancer can result when you drink excessively. In fact, studies show that alcohol intake increases the chance of oral cancer by 35 percent. You increase the risk of getting cancer by 65 percent if you drink alcohol while smoking tobacco. The statistics say a lot about how alcohol consumption can be quite harmful to your health. As we all know, cancer is said to be the top cause of death among many individuals across the globe.
At this point, you probably have a good idea as to how dangerous alcohol consumption is to your oral health. Before it can cause serious damages to your teeth and lead to severe oral health issues, make sure that you regulate or control your alcohol consumption. By doing so, you will be doing yourself a favor. In the end, it’s just as important to take care of your mouth as it is to take care of the rest of your body.
If you’re looking for a local dentist to help you with your oral health, get in touch with us today for a free consultation!
