We are all set to welcome the New Year 2011, with a great bash. Some of you have plans to host a grand party at your home and some are going out to those happening pubs and discotheques in the city. By now you might have decided which brand of liquor to pick and what sizzlers to order. The main course usually is decided later, only if you don’t feel like skipping it after stomach full of spirit.
Alcohol, though is enjoyable in a drunkard state, it is known to damage many internal organs and your TEETH as well. Alcohol is a napalm bomb of sugars, which, when metabolized by the saliva in the mouth, turns into plaque. Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey, Brandy and all sorts of alcohol (and not to mention beer) have high concentrations of sugar. Alcohol gets metabolized into sugar, and then the sugar into plaque faster than you can wake up from a hangover. The situation gets worse because almost every drunkard forgets to brush his/her teeth after drinking a bottle full of spirit. I know you must be laughing – “Who cares to brush after a drink or two, huh?”
Wine talk: Consumption of wine is rising in India, and more so in the metro cities like ours, Gurgaon. Some of the serene celebrations this New Year eve would be at a classy restaurant with some wine raised to toast. Grapes and apples are two of the primary ingredients used in wine. Both of these fruits, when fermented, convert sugar into alcohol. Some of the fruit will not be fermented, turning some of the extract into residual sugar, which is another danger to teeth, even at a measly 1% to 3% content – meaning not even dry wine is completely free from sugar. Winemakers have also been deliberately adding sugar to boost its alcoholic content. Excuse me, my dear brewer friends!
Gum disease is also very widespread in alcohol drinkers. Middle-aged men are prone to periodontal disease, gingivitis and bad breath. The discouraging part is one brushes their teeth only for less than a minute without even gargling thoroughly. Overnight liquor stains on teeth can’t be scraped off with just a few brush strokes. If a drinking party can’t be helped, be sure to brush well and the mouthwash after the party is over.
Humble submission: The chances of contracting cancer are higher if the person is a day drinker, because the metabolism of the body is highest during the day. The basic knowledge that we salivate more during the course of the day than at night gives us the notion that drinking during day is more likely to speed up the deterioration of our teeth, regardless if we brush or not.
Wine has been an essential part of the lifestyle of many people and generations to come. It’s a sinful treat to bust off a week’s heavy workload in a weekend alcohol party. People like it – Women find it refreshing, Men indulge in it, Teenagers try every means to sneak it into a party, Old people enjoy wine-tasting. But beyond the acclamation alcohol receives, it still gets no unanimous praise from the medical fraternity, especially from the dentists. So be warned.
Wish you all a very Happy & Health New Year 2011 ahead!
About the author:
Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.
The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.
She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.
