On average, out of every $100 dollars an American spends, one goes to alcohol. While having alcohol isn’t uncommon, did you know that it can cause serious damage to your oral health? In other words, while you have probably heard that red wine will stain your teeth, you could be causing more harm to your teeth. You see, alcoholic beverages are acidic, meaning they can wear down your enamel—which is the protective, outer layer of your teeth. Sadly, just as smoking or eating too much sugar, drinking too much can cause several dental issues.
One reason alcohol is harmful is that it dries out your mouth. The saliva in your mouth washes away bad bacteria and excess food particles. However, if your mouth is dry, your mouth may not be able to produce saliva. Ultimately, this can also lead to your enamel softening.
This doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking alcohol entirely, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate the negative effects of drinking alcohol. For instance, we recommend drinking plenty of water after an alcoholic beverage to rinse out your mouth. Similarly, you should limit soda and alcohol since they can cause more issues. Finally, please don’t brush your teeth for at least twenty minutes after you’ve had an alcoholic drink.
So what do you do if you find that you do have damage from alcoholic beverages? We recommend going in for a checkup with our dentist, Dr. Josh Walker. Our team will be able to diagnose any problem you may have. Just contact Family & Implant Dentistry at 785-539-5949 to schedule an appointment. We are eager to receive your call.