Opinion

The effects of alcohol on dental and systemic health

7 mins read Oral health and mouth cancer
In this article, Ali Lowe discusses the effects that alcohol can have on dental health—high pH levels and hidden sugar can have detrimental effects on teeth. Alcohol can also have an effect on systemic health, including liver damage, dementia, stroke and oral cancer

The past half century has seen a change in alcohol's status, propelling it from a luxury to a staple item, and doubling consumption in a large percentage of the population (Public Health England (PHE), 2014). ‘Oiled’ is the new normal: be it at home, at leisure, or interacting professionally, we feel we need alcohol to relax and socialise (Betts, 2014).

Women have largely been at the forefront of this transition due to a shift from the occasional medicinal sherry to ‘mumsnet wine ‘o clock’ and, as a result, drink is fast becoming a feminist issue. Indeed, at every age women are catching up with men in terms of consumption (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2014).

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