People usually say that drinking alcohol has health benefits just so they could justify their drinking habits. Although there are a lot of health benefits of alcohol consumption to the body, it’s not the same story with your dental health.
When you consider yourself a social drinker, you have to consider your choice of alcoholic beverages. Your dentist’s main concern is that you might not see immediate effects or damage to your oral health. The amount of sugar and the acidic content of alcohol are the very sources of dental problems for party goers and heavy drinkers.
Added sugar, especially on cocktails and other drinks, increases the risk of tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth enjoy feeding on sugar and carbohydrates. And as the acid level of your drink gets higher, the higher the chances you get dry mouth. Your saliva production gets lesser which is another plus for the bacteria. The softening of the enamel, on the other hand, leaves the dentine of the tooth completely exposed where staining and discoloration can occur. Not to mention tooth decay and gum disease that could soon follow.
The following are common beverages, revealed by a 24 hour dentist in Chicago IL, which happen to damage your oral health.
Wines. When you’re a regular wine drinker, whether it’s red or white, the same thing happens to your teeth. Your teeth, like mentioned earlier, get damaged through thinning enamel. You are risking your teeth from getting stained by the wine and other foods that have strong colors.
Cocktails. Weekends are just the best time to relax, unwind and spend time with your friends along with your favorite cocktail. Although it feels like you really need it after a long week, you might need to know what it actually does to your teeth. Cocktails are super acidic and high in sugar content that you can compare drinking it to sucking a rock hard candy for many hours if taken on a regular basis.
Beer. Just like the rest of the drinks, beer is acidic although, it is only harmful if taken over very long periods. It can cause dental damage and staining as well as bad breath. The good news for beer drinkers is that homemade brews that have less sugar content are less acidic and has more water content. The processed beer that consumers usually have is concocted with added sugar, malt, and other chemicals that damage the teeth and other tissues of the mouth. So if you want to stay clear of the gum diseases and other oral health risks, be sure to check out your local brewers.
Your favorite drink might have all these consequences but if you just can’t help but have a glass or more, be sure to have regular dental visits. Drink water to prevent dehydration and to prevent the bacteria from sticking to your mouth. Don’t forget to brush and floss.
Limiting your alcohol consumption can be tricky at times. Now that you actually know what is in your drink, you can have better choices and techniques to avoid further damage to your oral health.
