Adverse Oral Consequences Of Drinking Alcohol To Excess

How our teeth and gums can be affected by this popular social habit.

Drinking alcohol has been a mainstay of social occasions in the UK for many years. Although awareness of healthier lifestyles, along with religious and other lifestyle choices, means that perhaps fewer people now drink than used to do, many of us still like a few drinks when we are out with friends.

Whilst any alcohol will have an effect on the body, significant and regular consumption of alcohol can have a devastating effect not only on our livers and heart, but on our teeth and gums too.

Oral cancers

Perhaps the most serious potential consequence of drinking alcohol is oral cancer. Although smoking is widely recognised as increasing its risk, alcohol can also have a similar effect, especially when drunk regularly. Making sure that you see one of our Epsom dentists will enable us to monitor your mouth health, and, where unusual signs are noted, allow us to refer you to your GP for further examination and early intervention where necessary.

Gum disease

One of the most common problems exacerbated by alcohol is gum disease. This is largely due to the fact that alcohol can often cause a dry mouth, leading to an increase in ‘bad’ mouth bacteria which can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Seeing our dental hygienist is a great way to diagnose and help prevent gum disease problems before they become more pronounced. Patients with dental implants should also be aware that both periodontitis and peri-implantitis are more likely to occur in heavy drinkers and smokers, which can lead to implant failure as the jaw bone structure becomes compromised.

Oral health care

Along with a dry mouth, one of the consequences of drinking alcohol is that we may take less care of our teeth and gums. Having ‘one too many’ in the evening can lead to tiredness, and perhaps the inclination to fall into bed without cleaning our teeth. Brushing and flossing our teeth is one of the most important things that we can do to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Whilst skipping this for one night will probably not do any real harm, if it becomes a habit, you can expect to see problems with your teeth that would not have happened if you had cleaned your teeth regularly.

Accidents

‘Accidents will happen’, as the saying goes, but, under the influence of alcohol, they are more likely. Try to drink safely and responsibly for your own, and other’s, safety.

Whether you drink or not, your local Epsom dental team strongly recommend that you see our hygienist every six months or so for an examination and a ‘scale and polish’ to remove hardened bacteria from the teeth and gum line. This non invasive treatment is a great way to help maintain a healthy mouth. You can make an appointment to see the hygienist at the Clocktower Dental Practice by calling us on 01372 720136.