The new year has been celebrated for thousands of years, and spirited beverages have long been a significant part of these galas. Humans have enjoyed fermented drinks for the whole of recorded history, and they have probably debated the pros and cons of doing so for just as long. While it’s important to have a good time on New Year’s Eve, it’s also crucial to take care of your oral and overall health. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your beer, wine, or cocktail during this special night without damaging your teeth.
Enjoy Your Alcoholic Beverage Alongside a Glass of Water
Having a glass of water alongside your drink is a tried and proven form of hangover prevention, but it also does a lot to protect your oral health. Alcohol is an acidic chemical, and acid is one of the worst things for your teeth because it begins to weaken your enamel on contact. Drinking water along with your spirits helps wash acidic compounds away from your teeth and keeps you hydrated enough for healthy saliva flow. Saliva protects your teeth by keeping them lubricated and hydrated while also flushing away food debris and harmful chemicals and providing them with essential minerals.
Enjoy Your Drink with a Meal or Some Healthy Hors D’oeuvres
When you eat or anticipate eating, your body steps up saliva production to help break down the food as you chew it and flush food debris away from your teeth. Having a bite to eat with your drink promotes your mouth’s natural cleaning process, thereby protecting your teeth from harmful acids. To make matters even better, healthy crunchy foods like nuts, celery, carrots, apples, and hard cheeses are firm enough to scrape plaque away from your teeth while soft enough to be harmless to your enamel.
Take Care to Drink in Moderation
Alcohol has dehydrating effects on the body, and excessive alcohol consumption is believed to interfere with every biological process in the human body except for hearing. If you’ve had too much to drink, its effects can make it harder for your body to produce sufficient saliva and more likely that you’ll trip on something and damage your teeth. It also has the unfortunate side effect of making your breath unpleasant. Enjoy your liquor, beer, or wine in moderation on New Year’s Eve, and you can bet that you’ll have no regrets about it in the morning or at the dentist’s office.
About the Author
Dr. Eric L. Tolliver earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Missouri – Kansas City before completing a residency program for Advanced Education in General Dentistry. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association, the Greater Springfield Dental Society, and the Missouri Dental Association. His office in Springfield, MO offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more information on keeping your teeth healthy during the holidays, contact his office online or dial (417) 887-5757.