Alcohol and Your Dental Health

Alcohol abuse is detrimental to your wellbeing, but the effect it has on your oral health isn’t discussed often. There are obvious effects of heavy drinking, but even casual drinking can damage your dental health.

How Alcohol Impacts Dental Health

Alcoholic drinks are very acidic. Foods and drinks high in acid damage the teeth because the acid softens the enamel and causes it to weaken. When the enamel is worn all the way down, the nerves of the teeth can be exposed, causing pain and sensitivity.

Another consequence of the breakdown of tooth enamel is the appearance of your teeth. When the enamel wears down, it reveals the dentin underneath. Dentin is a darker yellow color. Ports and wines can cause the teeth to stain, even more, resulting in a dull and yellow smile.

Sticky sweet liquors, pina coladas, and other sweet drinks are full of sugar. When bacteria are allowed to feed on this sugar, it creates acids that can break down the tooth enamel and eventually cause dental cavities.

Most concerning is that alcohol has been linked to oral cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, up to 80% of people suffering from oral cancer report that they frequently drink alcohol. When combined with smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products, the risk of oral cancer is 30 times higher.

Part of responsible drinking is knowing the effects that alcohol can have on your body, including your oral health. If you frequently drink alcohol and are concerned that you may need a root canal, please contact Syrpes & Pangborn. We are located in Centennial, Colorado. We also care for patients from the surrounding areas, like including Castlewood, Southglenn, Dove Valley, Denver Tech Center, Foxfield, Lone Tree, Cherry Creek, and Greenwood Village, Colorado.