{"id":141,"date":"2024-08-30T13:11:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T13:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paradisedentistryorthodenver.com\/blog\/?p=141"},"modified":"2025-04-05T19:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T19:46:51","slug":"alcohol-and-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paradisedentistryorthodenver.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/30\/alcohol-and-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"How Alcohol Can Put You at Risk for Gum Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s nothing wrong with enjoying an alcoholic beverage every now and then. However, if you\u2019re in the habit of drinking heavily, you could be at risk for a number of health issues \u2013 and that includes a number of problems inside your mouth. In particular, alcohol can significantly increase your risk for gum disease<\/a>; here\u2019s what you need to know about this connection and some steps you can take to protect your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Can Alcohol Affect Your Gums?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol is known to cause dehydration, which can lead to a dry mouth due to the body not being able to produce as much saliva as it normally does. People with dry mouth tend to be at a higher risk for gum disease and other oral health issues; this is because they don\u2019t have enough saliva to wash away bits of food and harmful oral bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, drinking too much alcohol can have an adverse effect on your immune system, thus hindering your body\u2019s ability to protect itself against infections. Naturally, this includes gum disease, which is an infection of the soft tissues around your teeth. In fact, periodontitis \u2013 an advanced form of gum disease \u2013 is considered to be a long-term consequence of heavy alcohol consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even without gum disease, alcohol can still cause problems for your gums. A study in the Journal of Periodontology <\/em>found that alcohol users without gum disease were more likely than non-drinkers to suffer from bleeding gums or develop pockets between the gums and teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do to Protect Your Gums?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no need to give up alcohol altogether, but you also shouldn\u2019t ignore the impact it can have on your gum health. As such, if you want to keep your risk for gum disease to a minimum, it\u2019s recommended that you follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n