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How Alcohol Abuse Can Lead to Tooth Loss

How Alcohol Abuse Can Lead to Tooth Loss

4/14/2023 4:44:09 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 1877
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 140,000 people in the U.S. die yearly due to alcohol-related causes.

This sobering statistic is probably what many people have in mind when they contemplate the “evils of alcoholism.”
You can visit websites like zealousadvocate.com for similar hard-hitting facts regarding alcohol abuse.
However, there are less known but equally significant ways alcohol use disorder can harm individuals. One such example is that excessive drinking may lead to tooth loss.

Perhaps you know someone struggling with alcohol use disorder who has recently begun losing some of their teeth. 
In that case, you may wonder if there is a correlation between these two things. If so, how does alcohol abuse affect tooth loss?

Also, what are other oral and dental health issues that a patient with an alcohol problem can experience?
In this article, you’ll learn how alcohol abuse can result in tooth loss and other oral and dental health problems.

How Excessive Drinking Causes Tooth Loss

In a survey of 341 male patients with alcohol-related problems, The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) noted that the patients had three times higher permanent tooth loss than the national average for corresponding ages.
This report and many others indicate that alcohol misuse may cause tooth loss in some people, particularly those with alcohol use disorder. 

Here are some reasons excessive drinking can cause tooth loss:

High Acidity: Alcoholic drinks like beer, white wine, and cider can be very acidic. 

The high acidity of these beverages can cause enamel erosion on your teeth, potentially causing sensitivity and pain.
When you consume acidic foods or beverages, your teeth may experience an ‘acid attack’ for some time. 
During this period, while your saliva is helping to restore the mouth's pH level (acidity level), the enamel protecting your teeth may deteriorate. 

Poor dental hygiene: Compulsive drinkers will also likely neglect brushing their teeth. Occasionally forgetting to brush isn't a big deal, but poor dental hygiene can have long-term consequences.  

In addition to cavities, poor oral hygiene can result in infection or abscesses in the mouth, which can be painful and potentially deadly if left untreated.

High sugar content: Alcoholic drinks usually contain high amounts of sugar and other refined carbohydrates.
Eating or drinking sugary foods or beverages produces plaque acids when they react with a plaque in your mouth. These acids can attack the teeth and lead to tooth decay.

Gum tissue damage:  Alcohol may also corrode gum tissue, increasing the risk of gum disease.
When gum disease develops, the gum tissue erodes from the teeth, resulting in teeth that are no longer supported or appropriately protected.

Eventually, bacterial growth attacks the gum tissue and the tooth root, increasing the possibility of tooth decay and loss.

Dehydration: Drinking alcohol can cause your kidneys to release more water than they typically would, leading to dehydration.

Dehydration decreases saliva production in your mouth and inhibits routine bacteria removal from your teeth's enamel. This process may explain why excessive alcohol consumption is linked to plaque and tooth decay.

Other Ways Alcohol Abuse Affects Dental and Oral Health

As you might have known by now, based on the information above, people with alcohol use disorders tend to have poor oral health.

Individuals with an alcohol problem may sleep with a dry mouth, disregard professional and personal health care, and indulge in processed carbohydrates, likely contributing to their high caries rates.
Here are other ways alcohol may negatively impact an individual’s dental and oral health:
Gum disease: Alcohol can cause body dehydration by inhibiting the release of ADH (antidiuretic hormone), which controls urine production.

Dehydration can cause atrophy of the salivary glands and slow saliva flow. This may be the reason why many people experience xerostomia or dry mouth after drinking.

A dry mouth is an ideal environment for periodontitis, a condition marked by bleeding gums, plaque, infection, gum recession, and pockets where gums separate from the teeth.

Oral cancer: Alcohol also damages the mouth's protective lining. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are the leading risk factors for oral cancer.

In the United States, 5% of all cancer cases and 3% of all cancer related deaths are linked to excessive alcohol consumption. More than 45% of these cancers are in the oral cavity.

The  Australian Dental Association (ADA) reported that cancer is six times more common in people who consume alcohol. 
Long-term alcohol consumption increases the risk of oral cancer. Over time, taking one or more alcoholic drinks daily increases an individual’s cancer risk.

It would help if you cut back on your consumption over time or quit altogether to reduce your risk. Oral cancer affects several tissues in the mouth, including the cheeks, gums, and lips. 

Recurring mouth ulcers, patches, or discoloration may indicate an underlying problem.

As consumers, understanding alcohol's effects on your mouth is essential to making informed oral health decisions. 
For instance, if you want to enjoy a drink or two, you can reduce dehydration by sipping water periodically to replenish saliva. 
The other reason why alcohol leads to decay is that it metabolizes into sugar, which is an ideal food for bacteria. 

You can counteract this process by flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash after drinking alcohol (or any sugary beverage, for that matter).

More importantly, dental health professionals can instruct you and give you resources regarding lifestyle issues related to oral health. 

If you are experiencing gum pain, have bleeding in your gum area, or are just worried about tooth decay, consult a dental health professional. 

Make an appointment at a dental clinic or hospital for cleaning and advice on keeping your teeth in tip-top shape.

Category: Public Health
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