Effects of Drugs and Alcohol to your Oral Health

Posted by Dr. Anthony Huang on September 8th, 2019

Effects of alcohol on your teeth:

Most people enjoy partying and have a lot of alcoholic drinks especially when younger, little did we know that alcoholic drinks have serious effects on our teeth. Alcohol tastes bitter but the truth is it is full of sugar. The worst case about drinking alcoholic beverages is you will easily get dehydrated because it has a diuretic effect. If you are dehydrated you will have less production of saliva which will cause dryness of your mouth. Saliva is very important in protecting your teeth. It has a major effect on killing bacteria in your mouth and helps washing off the plaque.  If you have a dry mouth, you are likely to develop mouth sores and cavity or worst mouth cancer. If you opt to drink alcohol, it is better to drink water in between alcoholic drinks you are consuming or chew sugar-free gum to help you produce enough saliva. Alcoholic drinks are not only causing dehydration due to less production of saliva, it also causes severe staining to your teeth. Red wine, sangria and similar drinks with deep hues not only turn your teeth red but can result in long-lasting discolouration and overall dullness. You might be in for double-trouble if you have to drink juice or soda together with alcohol. Just imagine the sugar you are consuming which will develop into acid or plaque. People who are alcoholics likely develop halitosis or bad breath because they develop gum disease and higher plaque levels. If addiction with alcohol is not being treated, it will not only affect your teeth but also your overall health.                                      

Effects of drugs to your mouth:

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people using drugs like Methamphetamine and they don't care about the effects of this type of drug. Meth contains a lot of harmful substances that are not good for us. These chemicals have several effects on our body, especially in our teeth.  The ingredients of this drug are not only toxic, but also corrosive. Just imagine putting all of these ingredients in your mouth. Acetone, Anhydrous Ammonia, Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, Hydrochloric Acid, Lithium, Red phosphorus, Toluene, Sodium Hydroxide or lye, Sulfuric Acid. These ingredients can damage your gums and teeth especially the enamel. Too much use of meth can dry your mouth due to a decrease in the production of saliva which is very important as it has enzymes that protect our mouth from harmful bacteria. Furthermore, most of the people who are using meth tend to eat and crave a lot of sweet foods which enhances acid production that can damage the enamel and cause tooth decay. Worst case scenario is your tooth will decay all the way to the roots that will cause to fall out. You are not only prone to tooth decay when you use meth, but you will also have gingivitis and bad breath because of meth. The dental effects of meth are the worst compared to heroin and other drugs.  If you are using meth, seek help and undergo therapy before it is too late. This drug will not only damage you physically but also mentally and emotionally.

Alcohol and drugs really have a negative impact to your oral health. To combat and fix the effects of these harmful substances, a visit to your dentist will help you out. To have that healthy and beautiful smile back, book an appointment with your cosmetic dentist in Sydney now.