Alcohol isn’t generally considered healthy. Part of its mixed reputation comes from both the short- and long-term effects it has on your body and your health, from your brain, to your blood sugar, to your liver.
But what are the effects of alcohol on your gums, mouth tissues, and teeth?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate alcohol use as one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. The CDC considers heavy drinking to be more than eight drinks a week for women, and 15 or more for men.
Gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth sores are all much more likely for heavy drinkers, and alcohol abuse is the second most common risk factor for oral cancer. Read more on how alcohol affects the body here.
What about the teeth?
People who have alcohol use disorder tend to have higher plaque levels on their teeth and are three times as likely to experience permanent tooth loss.
But are moderate drinkers at risk for serious tooth and mouth disease? There isn’t much conclusive medical evidence. Dentists say that they see the effects of moderate drinking regularly, however.
Staining:
“The colour in beverages comes from chromogens,” explains Dr. John Grbic, director of oral biology and clinical research in dentistry at Columbia’s College of Dental Medicine. Chromogens attach to tooth enamel that’s been compromised by the acid in alcohol, staining teeth. One way to bypass this is to drink alcoholic drinks with a straw.
“If you have a preference for mixing liquor with dark sodas or drinking red wine, say goodbye to a white smile ,” says Dr. Timothy Chase, DMD, of SmilesNY. “Aside from the sugar content dark-coloured soft drinks can stain or discolour the teeth. Remember to rinse your mouth with water between drinks.”
Beer is only marginally better, according to Dr. Joseph Banker, DMD, of Creative Dental. “Beer is acidic just like wine. That makes teeth more likely to be stained by the dark barley and malts found in darker beers.”
Dehydration:
The American Dental Association (ADA) warns that one of the often-forgotten side effects of alcohol can be just as damaging to your teeth: dehydration. Alcohol consumption leads to a decrease in saliva flow, so instead of being washed away naturally, bacteria clings to the enamel and increases your risk of tooth decay.
Sugar Content:
Sugar intake can be a major risk factor in tooth decay. That’s because the bacteria in your mouth lives on sugar, so sipping on sweet drinks offers that bacteria plenty of fuel to thrive.
Other damage:
Tooth damage related to alcohol is increased if you chew the ice in your drinks, which can break your teeth, or if you add citrus to your beverage. The American Dental Association notes that even a squeeze of lemon could erode tooth enamel.
One study did conclude, however, that red wine kills oral bacteria called streptococci, which are associated with tooth decay,But that doesn’t mean that start drinking red wine just for this reason.
