Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs

Smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs all have a detrimental effect on your dental health:

• Smoking can cause bad breath, tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and even mouth cancer.
• Some alcoholic drinks have a lot of sugar in them and some mixed drinks may contain acid, which can increase the risk of tooth decay and erosion if you drink them often or in large amounts. They can also cause mouth cancer.
• Drugs can increase the risk of erosion, decay, gum disease and bad breath, and can cause a dry mouth. They can also lead you to grind your teeth, which can cause headaches and other dental problems. Smoking cannabis can have the same effects as smoking tobacco.