The Silent Saboteurs: Twelve Foods to Avoid for Optimal Dental Health

Finally, alcohol and alcoholic beverages create an oral environment conducive to decay, primarily because they induce dry mouth (xerostomia). Saliva is the mouth's most critical natural defense mechanism—it washes away food particles, remineralizes the enamel, and neutralizes destructive acids. When alcohol reduces salivary flow, the teeth are left highly vulnerable to aggressive decay and increased susceptibility to gum disease, making alcohol a serious indirect threat to long-term dental health.