Welcome to Edition 14 of Today's Mix, our website newsletter.

Subscribe and get a free copy every second month delivered to your inbox.

Click here to subscribe to Today's Mix

Edition 14 - February 2006

Alcohol, Bad Breath & How to Keep Those Pearly Whites

Will you be seeing the grand kids any time soon? Are you preparing to give them a big kiss – slobbering all over them with the usual beer breath? Nobody likes being kissed by a bad breathed uncle, aunty, pop or nanna - especially the grand kids.

We all know the risks that smoking and sugary foods and drinks have on teeth, but did you know that drinking alcohol can be affecting your teeth as well as leading to bad breath!

Our friend Lofty Jones has slowly been reducing his drinking as well as changing his drinking behaviour for some time now. Lofty was a heavy drinker for years and he’s done a great job in cutting back his alcohol consumption and improving his drinking behaviour– but as part of a dental check up his dentist noticed that he was suffering from dental erosion caused by years of heavy drinking.


Dental Erosion

Dental erosion is a chemical dissolving of the teeth’s hard tissue by a process other than bacteria. This affects the teeth enamel and then the dentine underneath.

“That can’t be right” said Lofty.

But then his dentist explained. “The minerals that make up the tooth structure dissolve when they come into contact with acids in the mouth. High alcohol use causes irreversible dental erosion. This is created in two ways - heavy drinking can lead to vomiting and vomit is highly acidic, and some alcoholic beverages including some spirits, beers and wine can also damage your teeth because they contain sugars, carbohydrates and other substances”.


Lofty stinky breath!

"So what about the bad breath?" asked Lofty.

"Heavy drinkers are at greater risk of tooth decay from the increased exposure to sugars and acids within the drink, which can cause cavities and lead to bad breath. For example, there is a higher sugar content in alcoholic sodas and Ready to Drink alcoholic beverages" said the dentist. However, this is not only a problem for heavy drinkers but also a risk for regular drinkers.


So what can Lofty do?

Well he is on the right track. He is having regular dental check ups, and changes to his drinking behaviour have meant that Lofty has reduced his weekly intake of alcohol, moved away from drinking straight spirits and he's drinking light beer as an alternative, which will all help his teeth and breath in the long run. In fact since Lofty changed to drinking light in August 2004* his waistline has also improved as light beer contains less kilojoules.

Not only does Lofty feel healthier and more relaxed, he has more money to spend on the grand kids, and he is doing his teeth and breath (as well as everyone else!) a favour.


Need Help?

For more information or to order materials call 1800 011 046, check out the web site www.therightmix.gov.au, e-mail alcoholproject@dva.gov.au or write to:

Alcohol Management Project
DVA
PO Box 21
Woden ACT 2606

* See Edition 9 - August 2004 of the Right Mix archived articles (And The Boys Light Up) to find out how Lofty modified his drinking towards light beer, the benefits of this change and new developments in the manufacturing of light beer to improve its taste.


Tell a Mate

Would someone you know like to get Today's Mix?

Email them this link so they can subscribe:
http://www.therightmix.gov.au/subscribe.asp

Edition 13 - December 2005
Edition 12 - July 2005
Edition 11 - March 2005
Edition 10 - December 2004
Edition 9 - August 2004
Edition 8 - June 2004
Edition 7 - April 2004
Edition 6 - February 2004
Edition 5 - December 2003
Edition 4 - October 2003
Edition 3 - August 2003
Edition 2 - June 2003
Edition 1 - May 2003

Legals & Privacy | Contact Us

© Copyright 2004 Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs