Alcohol plays such a huge role in the celebration of this annual holiday that we seldom stop and think about how this can cause damage to our teeth. There’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves during the holidays, but too much drinking can cause a plethora of tooth problems such as the following:

• Tooth Decay – Alcoholic drinks contain sugar and acids that combine with the natural bacteria in your mouth, hence forming an acid that attacks the enamel in your teeth. Couple those drinks with green sugary treats on the buffet table and you’ll surely go home with a less than excellent set of pearly whites.

• Dry Mouth – Alcohol also has the same drying effect that smoking has in your mouth. It decreases the amount of saliva, which is very important in reducing the incidence of cavities. It can also accelerate the damage caused by sugar on the teeth’s enamel. The worst thing about this is that having a dry mouth is uncomfortable, so you’ll be forced to drink more booze, not knowing that it actually contributes to your problem.

• Cultivation of bad habits – How many times have you forgotten to brush and floss your teeth right after going home from a wild St. Paddy’s Day party? It might happen only once a year, but it breaks your nighttime dental routine and allows all those sugar and bacteria to sit on your teeth overnight.

• Green Teeth – It may be fun to chug down some novelty green beer during St. Patrick’s Day, but the artificial food coloring can really stain your teeth. This is especially true if you recently had your teeth whitened since your teeth are most susceptible to staining directly after bleaching.

• Knocked Out Teeth – According to a report by Sikka Software, emergency visits to the dentists right after St. Patrick’s Day skyrocket by 64 percent across the country, no thanks to all the alcohol in people’s systems. Some people become clumsier and fall face down right on the sidewalk while others get into bar fights and knock each other’s teeth out.

Consider scheduling an appointment with Santa Barbara Dental Spa in order to make sure that your pearly whites remain in tip-top shape even after a booze-filled night this St. Paddys Day. We provide patients with cosmetic dental care and restored smiles in a soothing, relaxed spa environment. Our services include teeth whitening, lumineers, root canal therapy, and dental implants. We also make use of state-of-the-art high-speed equipment like laser technology, new advanced ZOOM whitening equipment, and digital x-rays in order to provide you with the best oral health care and a beautiful smile.

Contact the Santa Barbara Dental Spa with any questions that you may have about cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and oral hygiene. Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!

Dr. B.K. Rai DDS  + Everyone at Santa Barbara Dental Spa

About Santa Barbara Dental Spa: Located at 2017 Chapala Street A, Dr. B.K. Rai and the entire staff at the Santa Barbara Dental Spa are committed to providing patients with the best oral health care and beautiful smiles. Dr. Rai routinely utilizes the latest high-tech dental technology in a soothing, spa atmosphere to treat patients with bite problems and provide mouth reconstruction including dental crowns, bridge work and cosmetic implants. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-560-9999 for more information or to schedule a free consultation.