{"id":102,"date":"2019-12-22T14:54:36","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T14:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.somersetdentalarts.com\/blog\/?p=102"},"modified":"2020-07-29T16:20:37","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T16:20:37","slug":"dentist-in-somerville-how-alcohol-impacts-your-teeth-and-gums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.somersetdentalarts.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/22\/dentist-in-somerville-how-alcohol-impacts-your-teeth-and-gums\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Drinking Alcohol Increase Your Risk of Oral Health Problems?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Many people aren\u2019t aware of how their habits can impact the health of their teeth and gums, which can put their oral health at risk. If you often consume alcoholic beverages, you may be surprised to know that it can increase your risk of several oral health problems and diseases, which is why your dentist in Somerville along with researchers recommends limiting or avoiding any kind of consumption. Read on to learn what clinical studies are saying about the connection between alcoholic beverages and your oral health and how you can keep your mouth safe.<\/p>\n
What Do The Studies Say?<\/h2>\n
A study published in 2018 in Microbiome<\/em> observed people who consume at least one alcoholic beverage each day and the number of healthy and bad bacteria present in their mouth. They found that drinking alcohol can increase the accumulation of harmful oral bacteria and increase the risk of gum disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n
Dr. Jiyoung Ahn commented on the study, saying \u201cwe found that beneficial bacteria disappeared, and several inflammatory bacteria contents increased in heavy alcohol drinkers.\u201d The researchers defined \u201cheavy drinkers\u201d as people who consumed alcohol daily. They concluded that for the benefit of your oral and overall health, be sure to avoid heavy drinking.<\/p>\n
What Are The Harmful Effects Of Alcohol On Your Oral Health?<\/h2>\n
There are countless types of bacteria present in your body, some good and some bad. In your mouth, harmful oral bacteria feed off of sugars and carbohydrates found in your plaque and release waste in the form of inflammation-causing toxins and enamel-eroding acid. When your mouth becomes overwhelmed with these substances, it causes gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, and can increase your risk of a variety of additional medical conditions, including:<\/p>\n
\n
Heart disease<\/li>\n
Respiratory infections<\/li>\n
Alzheimer\u2019s<\/li>\n
Tooth loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Although Dr. Ahn isn\u2019t able to confirm that improved oral hygiene may help drinkers maintain healthier bacterial balances in their mouth, it definitely can\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
How Can Your Dentist Help?<\/h2>\n
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings. During these appointments, your dentist will conduct a thorough examination and oral cancer screening in an attempt to spot the early signs of disease and oral health problems. This is so they can treat the issues sooner rather than later, keeping them from progressing and causing life-threatening situations down the road.<\/p>\n
![\"alcoholic](\"https:\/\/www.somersetdentalarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AdobeStock_177283869__1579705176_31022-300x200.jpg\")
Many people aren\u2019t aware of how their habits can impact the health of their teeth and gums, which can put their oral health at risk. If you often consume alcoholic beverages, you may be surprised to know that it can increase your risk of several oral health problems and diseases, which is why your dentist in Somerville along with researchers recommends limiting or avoiding any kind of consumption. Read on to learn what clinical studies are saying about the connection between alcoholic beverages and your oral health and how you can keep your mouth safe.<\/p>\n