Today is World No-Alcohol Day and we thought it is the perfect excuse to remind you of the harmful effects alcohol has in our body, specially in our oral health, and help you answer some common questions about this socially accepted abuse. How many grams of alcohol does a wine glass contain? How much alcohol can we drink on a daily basis? Why is alcohol harmful for pregnant women? Get informed!

An alcoholic beverage contains ethanol, a depressant that in small quantities may produce euphoria and socialibity but in high doses will cause intoxication and unconsciousness. Long-term alcohol can produce alcohol dependence and alcoholism.

What effects does alcohol have in our body?

Alcohol affects our whole body in different ways causing some of these effects:

• Nervous system/brain: Alcohol interferes brain conections causing moodyness, confusion and incoordination of movements.
• Heart: Alcohol increases blood pressure and the risk of arrithmias and heart attack.
• Liver: Alcohol may cause cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis.
• Pancreas: Alcohol increases the risk of pancreas inflammation or pancreatitis.
• Immune system: The immune system is depressed in patients that have alcohol dependence and they are prone to infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis.
• Alcohol increases the risk for cancer, specially oral cancer, esphagous cancer, liver cancer or breast cancer.

How does alcohol influence oral health?

Patients with alcohol dependence present a greater risk for caries due to both a decrease in the salivary flow and a common neglect of self-performed oral hygiene.  They also have greater plaque accumulation, calculus and bruxism. Oral lesions like leucoplasia, erythoplasia and lichen planus are also more prevalent. Most importantly, alcohol consumption is a risk factor for oral cancer.

How much alcohol can a drink daily?

The World Health Organization (WHO) stablishes that men can drink a maximum of 30g of alcohol a day (280g/week), while women may drink as much as 20g/day (140g/week). A greater consumption could be indicative of a alcohol dependence. But how much is 30g of alcohol? The amount of alcohol and the gradation of the beverage determine the grams of alcohol. For example a glass of wine contains approximately 10g of alcohol, a pint of beer has 9g and a mixed drink between 20-30g.

Why is alcohol forbidden during pregnancy?

Alcohol in pregnant women is absolutely forbidden because it can cause damage on the baby that is under formation. There is no safe time during pregnancy or quantity of alcohol that we can drink safely. Babies of alcoholic mothers may present with what is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This syndrome includes short babies, low weighted babies, special facial features such as micrognatia or thin upper lips, and learning and intelectual disabilities  among others.