TEQUILA TOOTHSDAY
- Brittney Duong
- Apr 25, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: May 8, 2019
It’s Sunday morning. You passed out last night without brushing your teeth. Flossing hasn’t crossed your mind for weeks. You rolled out of bed at noon and now you’re in line at Cajé ordering an iced vanilla latte to wash out the taste of Vitali in the back of your throat.
You think, what could be worse than this?
What's worse than a hangover?
When you're at frat party on DP, soaking in the sun at a Dayger, or playing beer die, you're not thinking about the consequences. No, I'm not referring to waking up hungover. Alcohol can cause some major hangovers, but even worse it can cause staining, bad breath, cavities, and tooth decay.
If you are chasing vodka with dark sodas, your teeth are at risk to stains. Alcohol is super acidic, which weakens the enamel, the outer layer of your teeth. The chromogens, types of dye used in all types of drinks, can readily attach to the weakened enamel. Beer and wine are acidic and will stain your teeth too.
Tip: Red wine kills oral bacteria called streptococci, which are associated with tooth decay (but it can still stain your teeth)
You know those booths they have out on DP giving out free water? I ALWAYS grab the free water. They're there to help you! "Stay hydrated" is a common term thrown around when you're out drinking. Not only does this help your toxicity levels, it helps your saliva flow. Alcohol dries out your mouth, which can lead to bad breath and tooth decay. Saliva prevents plaque build up, bacteria growth in your mouth, and can help neutralize the acids from the alcohol.
I talked about how saliva can prevent bad breath in a separate post. Read more about how saliva helps your teeth here.
STOP MAKING POUR DECISIONS!
Alcohol also has high sugar content. Those 4Lokos we drink contain 60g of sugar in each can (I know some of you can drink multiple in a night). According to the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day is 25g. Not only does an excessive amount of sugar affect your health, it affects your teeth.
Bacteria living in your mouth produces an acid that attacks the enamel, the outer layer of your teeth, and eventually decalcifying and destroying the tooth. This bacteria actually feeds off the sugars you eat. So basically, by drinking sugary alcohol, you're helping out those bacterium.
Without proper cleaning and care, the bacteria can cause cavities, decayed areas that develop into permanent holes. These holes can trap more sugar and breed more bacteria, leading to serious diseases.
The acid can continue to attack the enamel, into the dentine and into the pulp where it can reach and infect the nerves and create an abscess, a pocket of pus. This is why your tooth aches when you have a cavity!
u CAN START BRUSHING
Instead of "U Can Study Buzzed", UCSB should stand for "U Can Start Brushing" because most harm to your teeth can be prevented by simply brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily!
Do not (and I can't stress this enough) brush your teeth with a bottle of jack.
If you take good care of your teeth every day (including Tequila Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, and Thirsty Thursdays) there is no reason to give up alcohol. Enjoy your drinks any day of the week, but of course prioritize taking care of your teeth!
Sources:
Comments