Impact of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Coffee on Your Oral Health

Using or abusing tobacco, alcohol, and coffee every single day will result in damage to the mouth and teeth including staining the teeth, weakening the gum tissue, development of gum disease and possible loss of the teeth. You’re also a higher risk of developing oral cancer, especially if you abuse alcohol or use tobacco products.

Tobacco Use

Every time you inhale cigarette smoke, the harmful substances in the smoke will stain the enamel of your teeth and cause the teeth to weaken. Excessive smoking can lead to gum disease and different types of cancer including oral cancer, lung cancer, and throat cancer. Chewing tobacco is even more harmful, as it’s allowed to have direct and prolonged contact to the tissues of the mouth and enamel of the teeth.

Alcohol and Coffee

Coffee and alcohol beverages are both highly acidic, which can eventually weaken the tooth enamel. These types of beverages are both notorious for staining teeth, especially red wine and dark coffees. The more often you expose your tooth enamel to these substances, the worse the damage will eventually be.

Reversing the Damage

The best way to reverse the damage done by these harmful substances is to discontinue their use. We know that this isn’t always possible, so it’s important to keep a good oral hygiene routine in order to lessen the damage done to your teeth. It’s also a good idea to use toothpaste that can help to remove stains and visit your dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and a checkup.

Because alcohol, tobacco, and coffee can cause problems for your gum tissue, please contact Coastal Periodontics for an appointment to assess your gum health. To make your appointment, call our Portsmouth, New Hampshire periodontics office today.