Every day we participate in activities that are working against the health of our teeth. One such habit that is incredibly bad for your teeth is drinking alcohol, which is unfortunate as it is a very common pastime here in the United States. In fact, statistics show that 50 percent of Americans had a drink in the past month, 70 percent had one in the past year. While alcohol is unlikely to cause any real damage when consumed in moderation, if indulged in, patients may experience widespread tooth decay. Dr. Carley is dedicated to helping you develop good habits that will protect your oral health for years to come.
Carbonation
If you can, you should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages that are carbonated, such as champagne and certain spritzers. In order to carbonate drinks, carbonic acid is used. This carbonic acid is actually detrimental to your teeth, as it will work to eat away at the defensive layers of your teeth, eventually weakening them to the point where your teeth will be more susceptible to tooth decay and other dangerous oral conditions.
Sugar Content
Some alcoholic beverages have a lot of sugar in them. Sugar is actually a carbohydrate, which means it will attract bacteria to your teeth. Using the sugar on your teeth as fuel, this bacteria will begin to produce acids that will begin eating away at your teeth. This process is called tooth decay and, given enough time, it can infect your tooth to the point where it will need to be removed.
Mixed Drinks
When it comes to creating mixed drinks, the most common addition added to alcohol is usually soda. As we’ve learned previously on this blog, soda is full of both carbonation and sugar, both of which can have a negative effect on your teeth. When you mix other beverages with alcohol, your teeth are being attacked on two fronts, as they will receive the negative effects of both substances.
Dry Mouth
Alcohol belongs to a group of substances called diuretics, which can cause your mouth to dry out. Dry mouth can be extremely harmful to your teeth and gums, as your saliva actually works to keep your teeth safe from bacteria and other substances. When your mouth is dry, you are losing this defense mechanism.
Failing To Brush
When you spend the night drinking, you tend to come home and then immediately fall into bed, forgetting to brush your teeth. However, it is very important you do not forget your teeth maintenance routine, as forgetting to brush leaves all of the sugar and carbonation from your drinks stuck to your teeth, where it will sit and continue damaging your teeth until you finally wake up and brush your teeth.
Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Carley Today
For our patients who have lost their teeth due to drinking too much alcohol, they can rest assured that we have a treatment that can fit their needs, here at Mountain and Sea Dental and Associates. From dental bridges to dentures and dental implants, we have a variety of different tooth restoration treatments that can possibly fit your smile restoration needs. If you would like to learn more about the effects of alcohol or any of our treatments, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Carley today.