Dr. David Dunn Dry July Interview

Dr. David Dunn Dry July Interview

Four reasons why your teeth will love you this #DryJuly

Stronger enamel
Alcohol is highly acidic and often leads to the softening of the enamel on your teeth exposing the softer dentine tubules from underneath. Taking part in Dry July and increasing your intake of water will help to protect your enamel, leading to reduced tooth sensitivity and potential discomfort.

Goodbye plaque
Dehydration is one of the often-forgotten side effects of alcohol that can be damaging to your teeth. This leads to a decrease in saliva flow leading to bacteria that clings to the enamel, forming plaque and increasing your risk of tooth decay. While easing up on alcohol is great news for lessening the development of plaque, it's also important to ensure you're brushing your teeth with a high quality electric toothbrush like Philips Sonicare's Rose-Gold DiamondClean brush.

A Brighter, Whiter Smile
It's no surprise that over time alcohol, particularly red wine and dark liquors can play a part in the staining of your teeth. While Dry July presents a great opportunity to give your teeth a much needed break from these stain promoting liquids (providing you don't instead opt for soft drink!), when you do reach again for a glass of alcohol, opt for white wine varieties or clear / light liquors.

Fresh Breath
Nothing nails a first impression better than fresh breath and nothing kills a first impression quite like bad breath. It so happens that alcohol is diuretic which means it makes your body pass out more water, leaving the mouth dehydrated from a build-up of plaque. Plaque can lead to bad breath so the good news is that you won't need to invest in your daily pack of mints, you can go au natural!

Interview with Dr. David Dunn, Philips Sonicare ambassador and Principal Dentist at The Macquarie Street Centre in Sydney

Question: Specifically why is participating in Dry July good for our teeth health?

Dr. David Dunn: Alcohol and teeth aren't natural allies. Alcoholic beverages can have a number of negative effects on our teeth health due to their high-levels of sugar content and various side effects such as dehydration and staining. Taking part in Dry July gives your teeth a much-needed break from these stain inducing liquids, helping to protect your enamel and reduce the development of plaque.


Question: If we are drinking alcohol, how can we protect our teeth?

Dr. David Dunn: Alcohol is highly acidic and can lead to the softening of the enamel on your teeth exposing the softer dentine tubules underneath. Decreasing alcohol consumption and increasing your intake of water will help to protect your enamel, leading to reduced tooth sensitivity and risk of dental decay or caries, as well as minimise potential discomfort.


Question: Are there certain alcoholic drinks that are better or worse for our teeth health?

Dr. David Dunn: It's no surprise that over time alcohol, particularly red wine and dark liquors can play a part in the staining of your teeth. While Dry July presents a great opportunity to give your teeth a much-needed break from these stain promoting liquids, when you do reach again for a glass of alcohol, opt for white wine varieties or clear / light liquors.


Question: Will drinking alcohol have a negative effect on our gums?

Dr. David Dunn: Yes, alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on the health of our gums by aggravating existing cases of severe gum disease – also known as periodontitis – or by increasing the risk factors for gum disease. Periodontitis results from bacterial growth in the mouth. The sugars in alcohol feed these bacteria and inflame gums – leading to bleeding, swelling and bad breath among other symptoms.


Question: If we are a regular drinker, are their certain products we should be using to maintain our mouth health?

Dr. David Dunn: Dehydration is one of the often-forgotten side effects of alcohol that can be damaging to your teeth. This leads to a decrease in saliva flow leading to bacteria that clings to the enamel, forming plaque and increasing your risk of tooth decay. While easing up on alcohol is great news for reducing the development of plaque, it's also important to ensure you're brushing your teeth with a high quality electric toothbrush like the Philips Sonicare Rose Gold DiamondClean brush.


Interview by Brooke Hunter