4 Tips To Protect Your Teeth From Alcohol

Having enough saliva production is critical to keep your mouth clean and healthy; it helps wash the acids and plaque-causing bacteria from your mouth. But, when you drink alcohol, it slows down your saliva production, which can cause dehydration, leading to plaque buildup.

Effects Of Alcohol On Oral Health

If you are still wondering how alcohol affects your oral health? Alcohol is not only bad for your physical and mental health, but it is also bad for oral health, which is interconnected to drinking alcohol and gum disease.

Here are some of the major oral problems caused by drinking alcohol –

• Cavities
• Gum Disease
• Tooth Decay
• Dry Mouth

You must contact a dental care provider immediately if you have any of these dental or oral health issues so that you can treat them before they get worse.

Can Alcohol Cause Cavities

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cavities, but it depends on the quantity of alcohol intake and how often you drink it.

Alcohol metabolizes into sugar over time, which attracts bacteria. When bacteria buildup, they damage the surface of the teeth, leading to cavities.

People who are habitual to drinking alcohol or drink alcohol in higher amounts tend to have more plaque formation on their teeth due to bacteria buildup.

These individuals are three times more likely to experience permanent tooth loss.

Drinking Alcohol And Gum Disease

Alcohol creates bad bacteria in your mouth. The more alcoholic drinks you consume, the more likely bad bacteria will accumulate on your teeth and gums. The bad bacteria can lead to gum disease and other oral health issues.

Drinking alcohol in excess amounts can weaken a person’s immune system and impair your body’s ability to fight against infections, which leads to gum infections and gum disease.

You can know the connection between drinking alcohol and gum disease in addition to watching your alcohol intake.

Does Alcohol Causes Tooth Decay

Yes, alcohol consumption can lead to tooth decay. When saliva production increases, it washes away fewer bacteria from your tooth enamel, and this process increases the risk of tooth decay.

Many cocktails use sugary mixtures to enhance the taste that coats your tooth surface, leading to tooth decay over time.

Beer, red wine, and white wine all contain acid that dissolves your enamel over time, leading to tooth sensitivity.

Does Alcohol Cause Dry Mouth

The most immediate link between alcohol and oral health is dry mouth (xerostomia). Alcohol consumption causes body to produce more urine, which can lead to dehydration, resulting in a dry mouth.

Alcohol irritates the tissues in the mouth and throat, causing inflammation, and it also reduces saliva production, which reduces and stops the healing process.

Reduction in saliva production can cause dryness or sticky feeling in the mouth, resulting in difficulty swallowing and sore throat.

How You Can Minimize Alcohol Effects On Oral Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate alcohol consumption for women is one drink per day, and for men, it is not to have more than two drinks in a day.

Consuming alcoholic beverages in moderate amounts can help in preventing alcohol effects on oral health.

Alcohol And Dental Implants

Drinking alcohol after a dental implant or surgery can negatively impact your healing process by increasing the risk of complications.

Alcohol can interfere with healing by delaying and stopping your body from rebuilding bone cells, blood vessels, skin, collagen, and other areas that may have been damaged from the procedure.

Having one alcoholic beverage can reduce the number of vessels that supply blood to your developing jawbone, which can leave the bone starving and cause future complications.

In some cases, consuming alcohol just after your procedure could have long-term impacts on your overall health.

Oral Care Tips To Protect Your Teeth From Alcohol

Including these oral care tips, you can still enjoy your after-dinner drink and a glass of red wine. Here are certain preventative measures to protect your teeth from alcohol.

• Brush Your Teeth Before Drinking

Don’t forget to brush your teeth before going out for a drink. Plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth are real magnets for red wine, which helps it stick to the surface of the teeth, increasing the potential for teeth staining.

• Rinse Your Mouth With Fluoride

Your dentist may recommend professional fluoride treatment if the condition of your teeth cannot be cured with at-home fluoride rinses.

At the dentist’s office, treatments can provide a higher concentration of fluoride for better protection.

• Drink Water After Having A Drink

Drink water after every alternate sip of alcohol to wash it away instantly. Drinking enough water will not only rinse acidity and sugar from your mouth but also protect your body from dehydration, which causes a dry mouth.

• Use Sugar-Free Gums

Saliva helps wash away harmful food particles from your mouth, neutralize acids, and fight against bacteria.

Chewing sugar-free gum after alcohol consumption can stimulate saliva production. This helps to clear acids and bacteria from your teeth and gums and promotes good oral health.

Key Takeaways

Now when you already know how alcohol effects on oral health. If you still want to enjoy a glass of red wine, you must use preventative measures given in this blog to keep your teeth clean and healthy and to preserve your overall oral health.

For more information on alcohol effects on oral health, contact Dacula Dental, and get specialized dental treatments according to your oral health.

Oral Hygiene Is The Foundation To A Confident Smile

Good dental hygiene and oral care start when you’re young, and it’s important to take care of each teeth inside out. Not only can this keep your teeth whiter and in good condition, but it can also support your overall oral health.

Having a brighter and shinier smile is one of the most attractive traits that comes with healthier teeth and gums.

Want to learn the basics of how to care for your teeth at home? We’ve got you covered.

7 Best Tips For Effective Teeth Care At Home

If you are thinking how one can have healthy teeth and gums, then you must include these oral care routines in your daily life, and use these teeth care at home tips to have healthier teeth and brighter teeth. Here are the 10 best ways to ensure your teeth care at home.

1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Your everyday hygiene habits are crucial to your overall dental health, and you must brush your teeth for about 2 minutes before going to bed every day.

This is the best way to keep your teeth clean, and the way you brush is equally important. In fact, poorly brushing your teeth is almost similar to not brushing at all.

Take your time, moving the toothbrush gently on your teeth in circular motions to remove plaque because it can harden, leading to calculus buildup and gingivitis (early gum disease).

1. Get The Best Toothbrush

There are different brushes in the market, ranging from soft to hard to electric. The best kind is the softer ones, as our teeth do not require hard brushing.

For most adults, a toothbrush with a small head and round bristles is good. If you’re using an electric brush with an oscillating or rotating head, it may work better than a manual toothbrush.

Making sure to brush your teeth thoroughly at least two times a day is more important than the type of brush you choose to brush with. If in doubt, ask your dentist.

1. Floss Regularly At Least Once

Flossing isn’t done just for dislodging food wedged between your teeth. Regular flossing also reduces gum disease and prevents bad breath by removing plaque. It’s best to floss before brushing your teeth.

• Take 30 cm to 45 cm of floss or dental tape and take it so you have 3cm or 4cm of floss left between your hands.

• Slip it between the teeth and into the areas between your teeth and gums, as far as it will go well.

• Floss your teeth with 8 to 10 strokes, up and down in a circular motion between each tooth, to remove food and plaque.

1. Don’t Forget To Clean Your Tongue

Are you confused about where the bad breath comes from?

It’s probably your unclean tongue, and it doesn’t matter how talkative you are, you must clean your teeth on a regular basis to have a clean and fresh breath.

Plaque occurs not only on the teeth and crevices but also on the tongue. Over time, it can cause a major foul breath if you do not brush correctly.

1. Use mouthwash To Maintain Dental Hygiene

Advertisements make mouthwash seem like it is necessary for oral health, but many people skip them because they don’t know how they work.

Using a mouthwash containing fluoride can help to prevent tooth decay, but avoid using mouthwash (with fluoride) immediately after brushing your teeth. Choose a different time to use mouthwash, probably after lunch.

Don’t eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after using a fluoride mouthwash.

1. Stay Away From Cigarettes And Coloured Foods

Smoking also affects your dental hygiene leading to gum disease and bacteria on the teeth gets under the gum which leads to increased levels of plaque if the germs get to stay on the teeth for longer.

Just like smoking, colored foods also impact the color of your teeth, making them look yellowish and feel unhealthy and unrefreshed.

1. Store Your Toothbrush In Unhygienic Place

Most people keep their toothbrush in the bathroom, which is one of the most unhygienic places to keep your toothbrush.

To maintain oral hygiene, avoid sharing your toothbrush with others. Keep it in an open area to prevent moisture from forming bacteria on the bristles.

Focus On Your Eating Habits To Maintain Oral Hygiene

Make sure to avoid consuming certain foods that can be harmful to your oral health, causing tooth decay and gum disease.

• Have A Balanced Meal

Diet and oral health have a bidirected relationship with each other. Diet and nutrition not only affects your physical health, but it also impacts your oral health. Having a balanced meal that is rich in nutrients and low in carbohydrates promotes teeth health.

Make sure to have a balanced diet that contains plenty of vegetables, fruits, and proteins, but limit your food intake that is rich in fat and sugar.

• Avoid Sugary And Acidic Drinks

Energy drinks are packed with unhealthy ingredients like herbal stimulants, preservatives, high caffeine levels, carbohydrates, calories, and extremely high levels of sugar.

The excessive sugar in energy drinks can make your teeth susceptible to cavities that can harm your tooth enamel and put your teeth at a higher risk of decay.

• Drink Plenty Of Water

Water is considered to be the best drink for your overall health, including oral health. Doctors also recommend drinking water after every meal.

This helps wash out some of the negative effects caused by sticky and acidic foods and drinks in between brushes.

Key Takeaways

Including teeth care at home is part of daily life, but people neglect or forget about their oral health due to busy schedules and unhealthy eating habits.

But, now that you are aware of these issues, and know the best way to keep your teeth clean and healthy, and how to have healthy teeth and gums, it’s time to see a dentist and start to brush your teeth and care for your oral and dental health before it’s too late.

Oral Care For A Lifetime Of Smiles

Referral Site –

[ADA]  Nutrition and Oral Health  August 30, 2023

Pregnancy and oral health are interlinked to each other, as pregnancy causes hormonal changes and increased demands on the body that can affect both your maternal and fetal.

Pregnant women are susceptible to wide range of oral problems that could be harmful to their health and the baby. Hormonal changes can cause various oral health problems like gingivitis, periodontitis, and even tooth decay.

If you forget dental care while pregnant, then you must read this blog to know pregnancy dental care and what safety erasure you can take to prevent oral problems.

How Does Pregnancy Affect Oral Health

There are certain hormonal changes that take place in your body during pregnancy and oral health is greatly affected leading to oral infections.

• Changes in hormones during pregnancy (progesterone and estrogen) increase the risk of oral health conditions.

• Your eating habits change as you start to eat certain foods that you may not used to eat before the pregnancy, and the kind of food you eat can affect your overall oral health.

• Brushing and flossing during pregnancy can lead to nausea and vomiting (sick feeling in the stomach), and you may brush your teeth less than you used to do before.

• Not maintaining and taking care of your oral hygiene is one of the major and common risk factors for oral health issues.

Risk Of Dental Problems During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with various oral issues because of an increase in hormones, changes in diets, and eating behaviors.

Here are some of the common oral health conditions reported in women during pregnancy –

• Cavities (Tooth Decay)

Being pregnant makes you more likely to have cavities in your teeth due to binge eating and high intake of sugar containing foods and beverages. Cavities are a small damaged area on the surface of your teeth.

You can pass the bacteria to the baby that causes cavities during pregnancy or after birth, which means your child may have cavities in the future.

• Gingivitis

Hormones can increase your risk of Gingivitis, and 60 – 75% of pregnant women are reported to have Gingivitis. It is an inflammation of the gums, causing symptoms like (swelling and redness).

If it is left untreated, it can worsen over time and can lead to serious gum disease.

• Teeth Loss

High levels of (progesterone and estrogen) hormones during pregnancy can loosen the tissues and bones that help to keep your teeth in place, which can cause tooth loss.

• Teeth Erosion

If you have morning sickness (vomiting), your teeths are exposed to stomach acid which can harm your tooth enamel (the hard surface) of your teeth, leading to tooth erosion.

Symptoms Of Dental Problems During Pregnancy

Oral health affects your overall health, and oral health problems can happen before, during, or even after the pregnancy. It can affect the baby, and the baby’s oral health and general health after birth.

The main signs and symptoms of dental problems during pregnancy involve changes to your teeth and gums, such as –

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Redness
• Shiny gum surface
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Mouth sores or lumps on the gums
• New spaces between your teeth
• Toothache or other pain
• Receding gums or pus along your gum line

While experiencing these signs, make an immediate appointment with a dental professional to cure the oral problems before it gets worse and leads to serious oral issues.

Ways To Prevent Oral Problems During Pregnancy

As you already know, there are severe oral health issues that come during pregnancy and oral health is greatly affected by hormonal changes and changes in your diet and eating habits.

Here are certain pregnancy dental care routines that you can include in your daily basis routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy and risk-free of oral diseases.

• Brush your teeth two times a day with (fluoride-based toothpaste) and floss regularly at least once a day. Use a soft bristles toothbrush. Brushing and flossing regularly removes plaque and helps to keep your teeth and gums clean.

• If you can’t brush your teeth because of vomiting problems in the initial months, use mouthwash or rinse your mouth with a mixture of baking soda and water. Rinsing with water and soda can help reduce the amount of acid in your mouth.

• Visit your dentist regularly for dental checkups every 6 months (twice a year) and even during pregnancy. During your dental checkup, tell your dentist that you’re pregnant.

• Maintain your diet, and include healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole-grain breads, pasta, and low-fat dairy products.

• Limit sweets and sugary foods and drink plenty of water instead of sugary and acidic drinks.

• Including healthy foods in your diet helps provide you and your growing baby important nutrients. Nutrients rich foods like calcium, protein, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and D will help your baby’s teeth to grow healthy.

• If you’re craving things like large amounts of ice, paste, dirt, or smoking, let your prenatal provider know.

How Dental Problems Are Treated During Pregnancy

Depending on your condition, your dentist may suggest you wait for treatment until your child’s birth. Treatments that are safe during pregnancy are –

• Medicines

Your dentist will prescribe you medicines that will be safe for you and your baby like medicines such as pain relievers and antibiotics to treat the oral infections.

• Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a medicine used to lessen or prevent dental pain. Anesthesia is used in specific parts of the body to numb your mouth for dental fillings.

Several studies have found that pregnant women who have been exposed to mercury fillings have a higher risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and low birth weight of the baby.

Key Takeaways

Maintaining a good oral care routine, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and limiting excess sugar intake can help prevent oral health problems during pregnancy.

Plan an appointment with a dentist every 6 months for dental care while pregnant and to determine any early issues that can be easily treated, and take care of your pregnancy and oral health.

Protect Your Smile And Your Little One’s Oral Health

Referral Site –

Pregnancy  [ADA] June 22, 2023

Pregnancy Gingivitis  [Cleveland Clinic] July 03, 2022

Dental health during pregnancy  [HMSB]  February 2023