Not many people think about alcohol’s effect on your mouth. While you may not think of excessive alcohol consumption impacting your mouth, it certainly does. In fact, it can affect many parts of your body.
Alcohol’s Effect on Your Mouth: Negative Side-Effects
Saliva
The first of alcohol’s effect on your mouth is that it reduces your saliva, or spit. This is because alcohol actually causes dehydration and dry mouth. When your saliva amount is reduced, you are suddenly at a higher risk of cavities and gum disease. Dry mouth can also lead to bad breath.
Using a fluoride mouthwash can help combat the chance of cavities, but it will not solve the issue of dry mouth. If you have dry mouth, avoid the urge to suck on candy or mints or help the dry mouth, especially if they are not sugar-free.
Oral Cancer
An increased risk of oral cancer is another one of alcohol’s effect on your mouth. Actually, alcohol abuse (21 or more drinks in 1 week) is the 2nd highest cause of oral cancer. This risk is even higher if you smoke in addition to drink. When alcohol dries your mouth out, it can actually allow the cancer-causing toxins in tobacco to absorb into the skin inside of your mouth.
Gum Tissue
Alcohol’s effect on your mouth extends to your gums. Even people who have otherwise healthy gums start to experience bleeding gums after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Bleeding gums is a sign that leads to gum disease. To help fight this, you can make sure to brush at least two times a day, and floss every day. Don’t forget to see your dentist regularly.
Tooth Stains
Beer, red wine and darker alcohol can actually stain your teeth. This is another one of alcohol’s effect on your mouth that is very undesirable. Beer and wine are acidic, and acid can break down the layers of your teeth. Acid wear can make teeth look darker, plus leaves a perfect service for dark stains to stick.
Excessive alcohol consumption can certainly harm your mouth. If this is a problem for you, make sure to go to your dentist regularly to catch issues early. Plus, make sure you are taking good care of your teeth at home. This will help to minimize some of the negative effects caused by the alcohol.