Face 
Dentistry 
It doesn’t take too long to find a friend or family member doing “Dry Jan”. A survey found that almost 9 million Brits planned a month off alcohol in January 2023. There are many benefits to time away from drinking, such as saving money and improved sleep.
Going alcohol-free is also associated with superior oral health. There are many drinks that damage the teeth when frequently consumed; cutting them out can keep your teeth strong and bright. As 2025 creaks into motion, now is as good a time as any to consider the benefits of cutting out the booze.
Plaque attack
People who drink large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis have higher plaque levels on their teeth. They are also three times more likely to experience permanent tooth loss. But why? And what does this mean for people who only drink moderately?
Many alcoholic drinks are high in sugar. From the sweetness of cider to the head-spinning effects of a Long Island iced-tea, sugar is prevalent across many a favourite tipple. Even a dark beer with its bitter flavour can contain over 3 grams of sugar per pint. Spirits are often paired with carbonated soft drinks for a nicer flavour. But that flavour comes with a sugar tax, as these soft drinks are also bad for the teeth.
Immoderate drinking causes tooth decay because of the sugar content. The bacteria in our mouths thrives on sugar; the more you give it then the more active it becomes. The reaction between the bacteria and sugar releases an acid – this erodes the enamel of the teeth. Without the enamel, the teeth lose their protective shield and can be damaged by the acid. Tooth decay can be visible, with white, brown or black spots appearing on the tooth. This can impact the look of the smile, and may increase self-consciousness.
In the spirit of Dry Jan, cutting out the sugary alcoholic drinks can reduce plaque prevalence. This also reduces the daily sugar intake and keeps the teeth and the body healthier and happier.
Have you ever seen the stain?
How many times have you known someone was drinking red wine by the colour of their teeth? Purple teeth are instantly noticeable among red wine drinkers. Other drinks, such as punch and sangria, have the same instant effect. Compounds in these drinks called chromogens cause the staining. They attach to the weakened tooth enamel and give the teeth that purple layer.
But alcohol-related staining is not limited to all things purple. It can be gradual, with dark-coloured soft drinks and dark beers also having staining effects. Over time these acidic liquids damage the enamel. This darkens the teeth. A stained smile can impact social situations, making the person feel self-conscious about their teeth.
A rinse of water in between these alcoholic drinks can wash away the acid and the colourful compounds. But for the best way to reduce alcohol-related staining, drink less!
Giving it a go
65% of people notice an improvement in their health after a break from alcohol. Dry Jan is an excellent time to give it a go because of the support network in place. Doing it with a friend or family member means you can also encourage each other. Even if you miss the start of January, going alcohol-free at any time of the year is an enormous benefit for your oral health and your overall health.
Get support for a dry January
You might notice a familiar face missing from Evolve for a little while… 💚
Carol is heading to Zambia with SmileStar, a dental charity providing free dental care to communities with limited access to treatment.
In this video, Carol shares a little more about where she’s going, what she’ll be doing while she’s there and why she wanted to be part of the trip.
It’s going to be a very different couple of weeks away from the practice, and we’re incredibly proud to see Carol giving her time and skills to support SmileStar’s work.
We’ll be sharing a little more from her trip when we can, but for now, we’ll let Carol tell you all about it in her own words. 💚
Safe travels, Carol. We can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re home!
#EvolveDentistry #SmileStar #Zambia #Dentistry #Portishead
🍰 Come and join us today! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!
We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome
Come hungry! 😋
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
🍰☕ Today’s the day - and there’s cake! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is happening TODAY at Evolve Dentistry and we’d love you to come and join us.
The Evolve team have been busy baking (and possibly buying… we won’t judge! 😉) and there’ll be plenty of cake and drinks available throughout the day, all in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
And remember - you don’t need to be an Evolve patient to come along.
If you live or work in Portishead, are passing by, or just fancy an excellent excuse for cake, pop in and see us. Bring a friend, your family or your workmates too!
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cake and drinks throughout the day
💚 Donations for Macmillan Cancer Support
👋 Everyone welcome
No appointment needed - just pop in!
Come and help us eat an unreasonable amount of cake for a very good cause. 💚
Please share so we can get as many people through the doors as possible!
Do I have to replace a missing tooth?
If you`ve lost a tooth, do you have to replace it?
Not necessarily.
And that`s an important starting point.
What happens next depends on which tooth is missing, your mouth, how you bite, how you feel about the gap and what`s happening with the teeth around it.
Yasmin explains some of the things we consider when a tooth is missing.
The important thing isn`t assuming you need a particular treatment.
It`s understanding your options - including whether doing nothing could be a reasonable option for you.
Why have my teeth suddenly become sensitive?
That sudden zing when you drink something cold. 🥶
Sound familiar?
Sensitive teeth are common, but there isn`t just one possible cause.
Richard explains some of the reasons teeth can become sensitive and why it`s worth mentioning if you`ve noticed something new.
Sometimes a little sensitivity is exactly that.
But a change that persists is something we`d rather know about than have you quietly avoiding ice cream for the foreseeable future.
Having a tooth removed probably isn`t an appointment anyone particularly looks forward to.
Which is precisely why feedback like this means so much:
“Made getting a tooth extracted incredibly easy and straightforward.”
Good dental care isn`t only about the procedure itself.
It`s about knowing what`s going to happen, being able to ask questions, feeling listened to and being looked after throughout.
Thank you for trusting us with your care - and for taking the time to tell us about your experience.
