4 Things You Should Know About Alcohol And Your Dental Health
Posted on: 30 September 2018
If you drink any kind of alcohol at all, you need to fully understanding how drinking will impact your overall dental health. There are a lot of misconceptions about drinking and your overall health.
#1 Alcohol Dries Out Your Mouth
Drinking does not help you stay hydrated and it has a negative impact on your dental health as well. When you drink items that have a high alcohol content, they can cause your mouth to dry out. This is truer with things such as spirits.
When your mouth dries out, it has an adverse impact on your dental health. When your o mouth is dry, your body is not producing enough saliva. A lack of saliva can increase your chance of developing cavities and cause plaque and bacteria to build up on your teeth. This can also lead to bad breath as well.
#2 Alcohol Stains Your Teeth
Many people are aware that wine can stain your teeth when you drink it. However, wine is not the only drink that can stain your teeth. Beer, which can be both acidic and dark, can stain your teeth as well. This is truer with darker colored beers, such as malts, porters, and barley's.
#3 Citrus Breaks Down Your Enamel
Drinks that have citrus in them are not good for your health either. Wheat beers are often served with citrus wedges and many mixed drinks are made with citrus as well. Any type of citrus is damaging for your teeth. Citrus eats away at your enamel, which is damaging for your teeth.
A little citrus here and there is not that bad for your teeth. However, having citrus drinks on a regular basis will contribute to a wearing down of your enamel. As the enamel wears down, you are more likely to develop cavities and other complications with your teeth as well.
#4 Alcohol Abuse Can Be Extremely Damaging
Alcohol abuse can be really damaging as well. Excessive drinking can have serious consequences for your dental health. When you abuse alcohol, you have a far greater chance of developing oral cancer. When you abuse alcohol, you are also more likely to end up with permanent tooth loss due to the higher build-up of plaque on the teeth of individuals who abuse alcohol.
Be careful with your dental health if you drink alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol of any kind in excess, and always rinse out and brush your teeth after your done drinking alcohol. Don't go to sleep without brushing your teeth if you want to protect your dental health. If you are having issues, talk with your dentist to see if a tooth extraction is necessary.
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