Alcohol and the dangers to oral health

Increased cardiovascular risk, digestive cancers, nervous system diseases, or cognitive disorders, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, whatever they are, is harmful to our general health. We know this because we keep hearing it. Butthe effects of alcohol on our oral health are rarely mentioned. So what are these effects? Nutrident makes the point on this subject in the following article.

Alcohol causes bad breath

There is a strong link between halitosis (bad breath) and regular alcohol consumption. We know that bad odors in the mouth come from sulfur compounds produced by bacteria in the oral cavity, so an imbalance of this bacterial flora, that is to say an increase in bad bacteria and a decrease in good bacteria, is the main factor involved.

However, alcohol diffuses rapidly into the saliva and soft tissues of the body, including the salivary glands. It therefore causes what is called ” sialadenitis “, i.e. an inflammation of the salivary glands.

This results in a decrease in salivary flow, and given the important role of saliva in maintaining the balance of oral bacterial flora and pH, this decrease favors the multiplication of bacteria responsible for bad odors. This phenomenon of halitosis is often aggravated by the poor oral hygiene habits of many alcohol drinkers.

Alcohol causes cavities and tooth loss

All alcoholic beverages are acidic and sweet, so their daily consumption is associated with a permanent decrease in oral pH (more acidic pH), which provides the ideal conditions for the formation of dental caries.

In addition, regular alcohol consumption causes dental erosions, i.e. a more or less extensive loss of the hard tissue of the teeth. This is explained by the acid regurgitation and gastric pathologies frequently associated with regular alcohol consumers. This dental erosion weakens the tooth and exposes it to bacterial colonization, which leads to the formation of a cavity on the tooth and then to its total loss.

Dental implants: alcohol reduces the quality of osseointegration

Osseointegration is the process of healing and bone regeneration around a dental implant. Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages is known to generally promote osteoporosis. Jaw bones are no exception! Indeed, alcohol drinkers have a poor quality of osseointegration after the placement of a dental implant. This results in a lack of stability of the implant and a risk of peri-implantitis, i.e. infection and inflammation of the soft and hard tissue surrounding the implant.

This is why dentists insist on stopping the consumption of alcoholic beverages (as well as tobacco) until the end of the osseointegration period.

Alcohol promotes periodontal disease

Daily alcohol consumption has many effects on the soft tissues of the oral cavity, including the periodontium and the oral mucosa. Several factors are associated in the occurrence of periodontal diseases, here are the main ones:

• Nutritional deficiencies commonly seen in heavy drinkers;
• Gastroesophageal reflux (which attacks all the elements of the oral cavity);
• Psychological factors (anxiety, stress, depression…), in fact, stress favors chronic inflammatory phenomena and the decrease of the immune response by inducing the secretion of cortisol. This provides a breeding ground for periodontal disease;
• Dry mouth: the decrease in salivary flow induced by alcohol consumption exposes to many infections, including mycotic infections;

Alcohol increases the risk of oral cancer

Regular alcohol consumption is also a major risk factor in the development of many cancers, including oral cancer. Indeed, it weakens the oral mucosa, which exposes it to the formation of precancerous lesions called ” leukoplakia “. They appear as whitish spots that cannot be removed by scratching and, above all, are not painful, which makes their diagnosis late.conclusion

In order to preserve your general health and that of your teeth, it is best to limit your alcohol consumption to a strict minimum. To do this, never exceed the maximum amount set by the health organizations, about 2 standard glasses per day for a woman and 3 for a man. It is also not recommended to drink alcohol every day, you should take breaks of one or two days to give your body time to detoxify.

Finally, we insist on brushing your teeth, never go to bed after drinking alcohol without brushing your teeth!