Alcoholism and Your Oral Health

 

DEFINITION

An addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency.

ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS

Begin with basic tooth brushing instructions and encouragement to practice tooth brushing daily.  Once-daily toothbrushing techniques have been mastered or a power toothbrush has been recommended and demonstrated, interdental oral physiotherapy aids can be introduced.    Do not recommend products that contain alcohol to avoid supporting their addiction.  Therefore non-alcoholic fluoride mouth rinses like ACT  and non-alcoholic antimicrobial mouth rinses like Biotene are recommended for homecare and preprocedural rinses.

ORAL MANIFESTATIONS

Tooth erosion from sugar in alcohol or regurgitation.  Sialosis, xerostomia, glossitis.  Stomatitis due to nutritional deficiencies and anemia.  Orofacial injuries from accidents or violence.  Severe infections due to immunosuppression.