Beer and teeth – We’ve found an excuse to raise a toast!
Beer and teeth – we’ve found an excuse to raise a toast! During holidays and celebrations, oral health is often the last thing on many people’s minds. These days are spent indulging in plenty of food and drink, and naturally we don’t think about the consequences. Alcoholic beverages have a range of effects on teeth and gums. Although many of these effects are harmful, some drinks can actually be beneficial, including certain types of beer.
The impact of alcohol on oral health
Why do alcoholic beverages affect your teeth? The obvious answer is that they contain sugar, which encourages the growth of plaque-producing bacteria. More acidic drinks can erode tooth enamel, leaving teeth more vulnerable to cavities. But that’s not the whole story. Alcohol reduces the amount of protective saliva produced in the mouth, which decreases the natural neutralization and rinsing away of sugars and acids. With more frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth can occur, causing erosion of the gums and cheek lining and increasing the risk of oral cancer.
Alcoholic drinks best avoided
Fortunately for most beer lovers, the worst offenders are sweet, fruity, acidic drinks that attack teeth with sugar and acids, slowly dehydrating the mouth and encouraging bacterial growth. Wine is also very acidic, and spirits mixed with carbonated soft drinks deposit sugar and acids where you want them least. Even beer has its downsides, as some types of beer, including darker beers, can be quite acidic.
Beer – More nutritious than you think!
There is some good news about beer: moderate consumption can help release more gastric acid from stomach cells to aid digestion and control bacterial growth in the stomach. Moderate intake can also reduce levels of bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Beer may help protect the heart from heart disease, and beer drinkers experience up to a 40% reduction in kidney stones, as beer hydrates and helps flush the kidneys.
Fortunately for beer lovers, beer also contains substances that are excellent for teeth! Real beers and craft beers with high barley and hop content contain high levels of silica and calcium, which help our bodies strengthen bones, hair, nails, and teeth. A study from the University of Iowa showed that these beers can prevent the loss of minerals from teeth, protecting them from demineralization and decay. Beer is also rich in tannins, which, although they can cause staining, reduce bacteria’s ability to adhere to the surface of teeth. If you drink beer in moderation, you may actually be doing your teeth a favor. There’s never been a better excuse to enjoy a proper pint!
How to prevent alcohol-related tooth decay
Even when considering the positive effects of beer, it still contains sugar and acids, so it’s important to make sure that alcohol consumption does not harm your teeth.
Simply enjoy it in moderation and take good care of your teeth with regular brushing, flossing, and routine visits to a dentist in Zagreb. Call Dental Center 4Smile at +385 (01) 8891 461 to schedule your appointment and free check-up today.
