There is no reason to feel guilty about enjoying a drink or two every now and again. However, if you are starting to notice that your number of alcoholic drinks are becoming more and more, then you should educate yourself on the ways these drinks can affect your oral health. Once you have a complete understanding of what the effects of drinking alcohol regularly can be, you may find you want to cut down or put extra care into your teeth in other ways.
Alcohol will cause your mouth to become dry
You may have noticed that your mouth seems to be extremely dry after you have been drinking alcohol. This is not a coincidence; it is the alcohol that is causing this extra dryness. A dry mouth is not a healthy environment for your teeth or gums. This is because saliva plays an important role in preventing cavities, gum disease, and other problems by helping to continuously rinse bacteria down, so it doesn't overwhelm your mouth leading to these types of issues.
Alcohol can cause bad breath
If you are concerned about your breath, then this is another thing that you should know about consuming an excessive amount of alcohol; it will lead to worse breath. There are a couple of ways alcohol can cause bad breath. First, the fact that it dries your mouth causes worse breath. Secondly, an odor from the alcohol in your stomach will come up and contribute to the issue.
Excessive alcohol can lead to bad oral habits
When you are drinking a bit more than you really should, it can also lead to bad habits, including bad ones with regards to your oral hygiene and other choices regarding your dental health. Some people take up smoking when they drink, and others can crave chocolate. These are just two examples of how drinking more can affect your decisions regarding your teeth.
Even if you plan on not smoking or eating bad things when you drink, once you start drinking it will be easy for you to change your mind because alcohol can also lead to you lowering your inhibitions. It's also common for people to not follow through with proper teeth brushing once they start enjoying an evening of drinking.
Alcohol tends to be high in sugars
Since sugar can contribute to cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues, it is a good idea to watch how much you consume. Since alcohol tends to be high in sugars, this can also contribute to negative dental effects when you drink too much. This is especially true if you end up neglecting your teeth brushing on those nights.
For more information, contact your local dentist.
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