Happy Hour Doesn’t Have to Hurt Your Smile: How Alcohol Affects Your Gums

If you are one to enjoy a drink on the weekends or on occasions, you aren’t alone. Many like to loosen up for an event, but you should know that these adult beverages can cause trouble for your smile. While they can affect your teeth, they can also increase your risk of gum, or periodontal, disease. Here’s what you need to know about this habit and the health of the soft pink tissues in your mouth.

How Can Alcohol Affect My Gum Health?

It may be easy to forget since alcohol is a drink, but it can cause dry mouth. When this happens, you won’t be able to produce enough saliva to neutralize acids and wash harmful bacteria away. They’ll linger and thrive, building up into plaque if you don’t clean then off. The longer they stay, the more you risk attacking your gums and infecting them.

Not only that, but alcohol affects your immune system as well. When it becomes weakened, your body may not react as fast to infections. This goes for inflammation caused by gum disease, so the slower response can impact your smile over time.

People who regularly drink may also neglect their oral hygiene routine. They might skip brushing and flossing twice a day, allowing plaque to build up.

Why Is Gum Disease Such a Serious Problem?

While gum disease is an infection in the pink soft tissues of your mouth, you may imagine it’s no big deal. Maybe it’ll go away like a sinus one, but this isn’t the case at all. Oral health issues cannot heal on their own.

Instead, this condition can get worse and cause serious complications. The early warning signs may not be too intense, as they’re mainly noticeable redness, swelling, or bleeding when brushing and flossing. However, it can lead to gum recession and tooth loss in advanced stages.

There’s been research as well that has linked periodontal disease to other systemic health conditions, like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. By simply taking steps against this dental problem, you may be benefiting your overall self as well.

What Can I Do to Protect My Smile While Drinking?

While alcohol and gum disease can cause problems for your smile, the good news is that you can still enjoy a drink while protecting your oral health. Here are simple tips to follow:

• Have these types of beverages in moderation and limit sugary additives.
• Take sips of water in between.
• Brush and floss twice a day to remove plaque on your gumline.
• Eat a nutritious diet to promote your gum health and immune system.

Lastly, keep up with visits to your dentist! By having routine checkups and cleanings, they can monitor for the early warning signs of periodontal disease and give you prompt treatment to prevent it from progressing. That way, you can still enjoy a drink with your friends and family and keep your smile strong.

About the Practice

Led by Dr. Terry Rakowsky and Dr. Sean Brown, our team here in Doylestown is ready to help you through your oral healthcare journey. We are passionate about being proactive about your grin, preventing problems before they arise. If you do end up developing one, like gum disease, then we are here to offer a compassionate hand to help get your mouth problem-free once again. If you notice bleeding when you brush or floss, schedule an appointment or call our office at (215) 348-2224.