You enjoy a nice glass of wine or a cold beer from time to time, and you’re concerned about the impact it is having on your teeth. Once you learn how alcohol affects your teeth, you will have a better idea of how to move forward. Then, you’ll know if you should give up alcohol for good or if you can enjoy a drink from time to time.
How Alcohol Affects Your Teeth – Dry Mouth
Have you ever noticed how dry your mouth feels when you drink alcohol? Alcohol dries out the mouth and is also very acidic. That creates the ideal environment for bacteria, which can lead to cavities, bad breath, and other issues. When you look at how alcohol affects your teeth, you have to consider that you could end up with cavities if you drink for long periods of time.
Stained Teeth
When considering how alcohol affects your teeth, you also need to think about staining. Alcohol is hard on the enamel, and that can lead to staining. You’re much more likely to stain your teeth if you drink red wine, since the tannins actually bind to the teeth, trapping the color in the enamel.
Serious Issues
If you drink alcohol on a regular basis, you can end up with more serious issues. Then, you don’t just have to worry about how alcohol affects your teeth. You also have to worry about how it impacts your mouth as a whole. You can actually end up with oral cancer from heavy drinking. As you can see, it’s not just about how alcohol affects your teeth. It’s about how it impacts your overall oral health.
How to Protect Your Teeth
You’re concerned about how alcohol affects your teeth, and you want to limit the damage. First, don’t cross the line between moderate and heavy drinking. Women shouldn’t drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day, and men shouldn’t have more than two. In addition, drink water after you drink alcohol, and keep regularly scheduled dental appointments. Then, you won’t have to worry nearly as much about how alcohol affects your teeth.
Are You Worried About How Alcohol Affects Your Teeth?
Dr. Nebblett and the team at Freehold Orthodontics are experts in orthodontics. We are happy to answer any questions pertaining to Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, braces, and clear braces in Marlboro, NJ, 07726, and the surrounding areas. If you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Nebblett, please contact Freehold Orthodontics at 732-462-0700 or visit https://freeholdortho.com.