Drinks that contain alcohol tend to be very acidic, meaning they aren’t friends to your tooth enamel. From beer and wine to mixed drinks and liquor, all types of alcoholic drinks have the potential to damage your teeth in more ways than one. How else does alcohol affect your dental health? Here’s what you need to know about alcohol and your smile!
Damages Your Tooth Enamel
Since alcohol is so acidic, it can wear away tooth enamel over time. Generally, the more acidic your drink is, the worse the damage can be. The acidity of alcohol can vary, but mixed drinks that include alcohol mixed with fruit juice, soda, or both tend to be much more acidic than other drinks.
When tooth enamel is worn away, it can cost a host of problems. A few of these dental issues include tooth sensitivity, tooth discoloration, cavities, and even gum disease [1]. The more frequently you drink alcohol, the greater risk you have for tooth enamel erosion.
Contributes to Dry Mouth
Another negative effect of alcohol on the oral cavity is dry mouth. Alcohol dehydrates you, which means less saliva in your mouth to help protect your teeth. Saliva not only acts a buffer between your teeth and harmful acids and bacteria, but it also helps nourish teeth with minerals such as phosphorus and calcium.
Dry mouth can not only lead to tooth enamel damage—it can also cause bad breath [2]. Dry mouth has also been linked to oral health problems such as increased plaque, gum disease, and an increased risk for oral infections such as oral thrush.
Increases Your Risk for Oral Cancer
Perhaps the most serious effect of alcohol on your smile is oral cancer. Alcohol increases your risk for oral cancer, and generally, the more you drink, the greater your risk [3]. Oral cancers include cancers of the mouth, neck, and throat that can start out with no symptoms and progress enough to metastasize, or spread to other areas of the body.
There is also evidence that alcohol can increase your risk for other cancers in the body, including esophageal cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Dentists recommend getting an oral cancer screening annually to check for oral cancer whether or not you smoke or drink.
Which Beverages Are Best?
Although alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation, the best beverage for your smile is unquestionably water. You can even help reduce alcohol’s effects on the oral cavity by sipping water with your drink. You can also avoid mixed drinks whenever possible, and consider reducing your alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day or a few drinks per week to protect both your bodily health and your smile!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535480/
2. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(17)30467-1/pdf
3. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-
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