Clinical research has discovered people are three times more likely to suffer from severe gum disease if they are dependent on alcohol compared to an occasional drinker.
Presented in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the research also discovered when combined with smoking, the chances of developing severe gum disease further increased.
While gum disease may not be considered a serious health problem, it is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Poor oral health has also been linked to strokes, heart disease, meningitis, pneumonia and mouth cancer.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, sounded out the research as a further warning shot to those who enjoy alcohol in excess.
Dr Carter said: “The growing body of evidence suggests what we once thought were safe alcohol consumption levels are in fact not so, particularly if it’s compounded by smoking.
“Even those who don’t drink or are occasional drinkers are susceptible to health problems. Almost one in five people observed in the study had severe gum disease, a problem exasperated by smoking.
“The crucial thing to remember is with a good oral hygiene routine, dental problems can be prevented and kept at bay. Developing a good routine and sticking to it will also help to stave off a whole range of health problems, so there is no excuse for poor oral hygiene.
“Alongside the Foundation’s three key messages – brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often you eat sugary food and drinks and visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend – cleaning in between teeth, using a mouthwash and even chewing sugar-free gum are all things you can do to reduce the build-up of oral health problems.”
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