A few years ago, I realized that I was thinking about dental care all wrong. Instead of listening carefully to my dentist and making the necessary changes, I assumed that he was ultimately responsible for making sure that my teeth stayed healthy. Unfortunately, I developed a few serious cavities because I failed to properly brush and floss my teeth, and I knew that it was my fault. I decided to start taking notes at my dental checkups and carefully abiding by the dentist's orders. The difference was almost miraculous. This blog is all about working with your dentist to improve your result.
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Working With My Dentist
The Dental Dangers Of Alcohol Abuse And Treatment Options Once In Recovery
Siiri Puro
From its intense effects on the brain and heart to the possibility of liver damage and various forms of cancer, the dangerous risks of alcohol abuse are easy to see. While it plays a role in your physical and emotional health, alcohol can also wreak havoc on the underlying health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. If you are part of the 10 percent of Americans currently in recovery for substance abuse, such as a drug or alcohol addiction, it may be time to understand and repair the damage done to your oral health. Using this guide, you will understand the dental dangers of alcohol abuse and learn the best options for restoring your smile back to health.
Dental Dangers of Alcohol Abuse
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can discolor your teeth, but this staining occurs from drinking various alcoholic beverages and not just red wine. You may experience yellowing and discoloration of your teeth from drinking all types of wine, mixed drinks, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. This staining stems from the acidic properties found in alcohol. These acids erode your surface enamel and increase your risk of tooth staining.
The acids found in alcohol also reduce the saliva in your mouth. This causes your mouth to be excessively dry, leading to the growth of bacteria and increasing the development of plaque and tartar. Over time, this can lead to cavities, decay, tooth loss, and gum disease.
Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is also the second largest risk factor of developing oral cancer. If you are experiencing the following signs of oral cancer, consult your dentist immediately for diagnosis and treatment:
- Sores and lumps in the mouth or throat
- Red or white lesions in the mouth or throat
- Pain or numbness in the mouth, tongue, or throat
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw and tongue
- Chronic sore throat
- Pain in ears, without hearing loss
Oral cancer is a serious condition that can be life-threatening without treatment, so taking these signs and symptoms seriously is important.
Treatment Options
Once you are in recovery from your alcohol addiction, you can begin treatment to restore your smile back to a healthy, appealing state.
Fortunately, many options are available to remove stains from your teeth. Your dentist may recommend a professional cleaning and a tooth whitening treatment. During an LED whitening treatment, your dentist will apply a bleaching gel to the surface of your teeth before focusing the light of a specialized lamp onto the gel. The light activates the bleaching agents in the gel, removing discoloration and brightening the underlying white color of your teeth.
If you are dealing with dental erosion or tooth decay from alcohol abuse, your dentist will need to fill any cavities and cover broken or chipped teeth with dental crowns. Porcelain veneers are also effective options for restoring a damaged smile. These thin covers are affixed directly to the surface of the teeth, ensuring a durable, permanent, and natural smile restoration.
Oral cancer will require a more involved form of treatment that will be based on the stage of cancer. Earlier stages of oral cancer, or stage 0, will require surgically removing the top layers of affected tissue before the cancer spreads further into your mouth and throat tissue.
Chemotherapy and radiation may be necessary after surgically removing the affected tissue. Surgery and chemotherapy treatments are usually effective for treating oral cancer, but you may experience many side effects. However, the treatments are imperative for removing the cancer from your mouth and living a healthier lifestyle.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your physical health and wellness, but it can also decrease the health and look of your smile. Using this guide, you will see the dental dangers of alcohol abuse and learn the best treatments to repair your smile once in recovery.
For more information about repairing your dental health, contact an experienced dentist or visit sites like http://accentdentalnwi.com/.
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