During the month of August, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has prepared a “Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide’ to help young adults make sure their teeth make it well past their 30th birthday.
One topic which the ADA had touched on was the effects of alcohol on your teeth.
This is what they said:
The main threat to your teeth and gums comes from the sugar content in alcohol (including beer) which, when broken down in your mouth, creates an acidic breeding ground for bacteria and plaque.
There is also a strong clinical link between the excessive consumption of alcohol and head and neck cancers. In fact, while it can increase the risk of getting these diseases if used together with tobacco, alcohol can pose a risk in its own right.
Limiting the Damage
- Most importantly, after a night out, you should brush and floss your teeth before going to bed. If you often forget to do this, leave your tooth brush on your pillow before you go out to remind you to spend a couple of minutes brushing.
- While you’re drinking try to swish a mouthful of water around every so often to increase the saliva flow and rinse away sugars and acid in your mouth
- On your way home, chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow and clear the mouth of harmful sugars and acid.
Further topics will be posted in following weeks. In the meantime, visit the ADA website for more information!