On average, out of every $100 dollars an American spends, one goes to alcohol. While having alcohol isn’t uncommon, did you know that it can cause serious damage to your oral health? In other words, while you have probably heard that red wine will stain your teeth, you could be causing more harm to your teeth.
Alcohol is very high in acidity. This can be a problem because acid can break down your enamel. Unfortunately, if your enamel is gone, there is no way to get it back. If this happens, you could ultimately find yourself coping with tooth decay, gum disease, and gingivitis. Sadly, these diseases can lead to other, more severe oral issues.
One reason alcohol is harmful is that it dries out your mouth. The saliva in your mouth washes away bad bacteria and excess food particles. However, if your mouth is dry, your mouth may not be able to produce saliva. Ultimately, this can also lead to your enamel softening.
This doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking alcohol entirely, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate the negative effects of drinking alcohol. For instance, we recommend drinking plenty of water after an alcoholic beverage to rinse out your mouth. Similarly, you should limit soda and alcohol since they can cause more issues. Finally, please don’t brush your teeth for at least twenty minutes after you’ve had an alcoholic drink.
If you have any questions about alcohol consumption and how it affects your teeth, please don’t hesitate to contact Nicholas P. Kondon, DMD at 978.369.9090. Dr. Nicholas Kondon and our team look forward to hearing from you soon.