teeth

How your favourite tipple could be changing the bacteria in your mouth… and it’s not good news

Just one alcoholic drink a day changes the balance of bacteria in the mouth and can lead to a range of diseases from tooth decay to cancer, a new study has revealed.

Researchers looking at the effects of alcohol on oral health discovered drinking habits influence the types of bacteria that reside in the mouth, with higher numbers of so-called ‘bad bacteria’ found in those who consume alcohol daily.

Scientists tested saliva samples from more than 1,000 adults and found that, compared to non-drinkers, those who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day saw a reduction of healthy bacteria in the mouth, with a significant increase of harmful bacteria also detected.

Such changes could contribute to alcohol-related diseases such as gum disease, tooth decay, head and neck cancer, and digestive tract cancers.

The Oral Health Foundation wants to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol and the impact that regular consumption can have on the mouth and overall health.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “There are hundreds of different types of bacteria in the mouth and they all play a highly significant role in a person’s wellbeing. These bacteria are finely balanced and important for maintaining everything from the immune system and how the body deals with pollution in the environment, to protecting the teeth and gums and aiding with digestion after eating and drinking.

“The bacterial imbalance from drinking alcohol can cause serious problems in the mouth, such as gum disease, as well as increase the risk of head and neck cancer and heart disease.”

The study also found the type of alcohol consumed also affects the type bacteria in the mouth, with researchers testing wine, beers and spirits.

They found that wine drinkers produce more bacteria responsible for gum disease when compared to non-drinkers while those who consume beer produce an increase in bacteria that are linked to dental decay.

Researchers were able to show that alcohol consumption is associated with decreased abundance of Lactobacillales, a bacterium beneficial to oral health by reducing the risk of tooth decay. They also found that alcohol suppresses the growth of pathogens that can help reduce gum inflammation.

“A number of high profile studies have previously pointed to the dangers around drinking alcohol to excess but this research offers an additional cause for concern,” added Dr Carter.

“It is therefore important to be aware of the effects that even moderate alcohol consumption can have on oral and overall health, if drinking is sustained over a prolonged period of time.

“The best way for somebody to protect themselves from alcohol-related disease is to drink moderately, both in volume and frequency.

“It is also especially important that before bed, teeth are brushed correctly after drinking alcohol. Don’t allow the bad bacteria to build up overnight.

“By giving the mouth a good clean last thing at night, bacteria in the saliva can be neutralised and help prevent any unwanted oral health or general health problems.”

BOS encourages patients to enter Against the Odds award 2018

The British Orthodontic Society’s Against The Odds award showcases the transformative power of braces by identifying the best account of orthodontic treatment told by a patient. Entries are now being encouraged for the deadline of 31 August 2018.

Patients who enter the award should describe in five hundred words their experience of treatment, explaining how the final outcome was achieved “against the odds” and how their specialist supported them through the treatment.

Sponsored by Ormco, the award is open to children and adults and is now in its 12th year. The most recent winner was 17-year-old Lubo Rnic. (www.bos.org.uk/Public-Patients/Against-the-Odds/Against-the-Odds-Lubos-Story)

Lubo’s orthodontic treatment was carried out by Bristol-based orthodontist Dr Peter Thomas after speech and language therapist Sarah Barnett suggested that orthodontics could help Lubo.

The first prize is £750 worth of travel vouchers for the patient while the orthodontist is awarded with a trophy. To download the entry form: www.bos.org.uk/Public-Patients/Against-the-Odds

Tooth decay in five-year-olds now increasing in some parts of England

Survey figures published by Public Health England (PHE) show the state of oral health of five-year-olds in the North West, Yorkshire and The Humber and the West Midlands has worsened since the last survey in 2014-2015, bucking a previous improving trend. Overall, in 2016-2017, 23.3 per cent of five-year-olds in England experienced tooth decay, improving from 24.7 per cent in 2014-2015.

More than a third (33.9 per cent) of five-year-olds in the North West have tooth decay, according to PHE’s data. The proportion of five-year-olds with tooth decay is also very high in Yorkshire and The Humber, where 30.4 per cent have rotting teeth. In the West Midlands more than a quarter (25.7 per cent) of five-year-olds are suffering decay.

The Faculty of Dental Surgery has said that although an overall drop in the percentage of 5-year-olds is welcome and reflects the work that has gone into educating families about oral health in recent years, including through NHS England’s new Starting Well programme, more needs to be done to stop deterioration in the worst affected areas of England.

Stephen Fayle, Board Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at The Royal College of Surgeons, said: “We are very disappointed the proportion of young children with tooth decay has increased in some areas of England, especially as this deterioration has occurred in parts of the country where decay levels are already high. This growing inequality is despite efforts to educate children, parents and carers. It is even more concerning when you consider that approximately ninety per cent of dental decay is preventable.

“More work must be done to understand why the message isn’t getting through in these areas, or if it is, why it isn’t leading to the decrease in tooth decay, seen in other parts of the country. With so many children still suffering from decay, we also need to make sure children can easily access NHS dental services, which are free for under-18s.

“We are pleased the overall number of five-year-olds in England with tooth decay continues to decrease. Many, including the Faculty of Dental Surgery, have worked hard in recent years to make people aware of the awful state of our children’s teeth.

“We can’t let children’s oral health fall off the Government’s agenda. We need to be constantly pushing for public health initiatives that remind families to brush teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste, reduce sugar consumption and visit the dentist routinely.

“We would also like to see the promising ‘Starting Well’ initiative rolled out more widely across the country – for example, there are currently no programmes in the West Midlands even though this region has seen a rise in levels of tooth decay.”

The full results of the oral health survey of five-year-old children 2017 published by Public Health England are available here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oral-health-survey-of-5-year-old-children-2017