The effects of ethyl alcohol on the oral cavity.

In what regards the effect on the oral cavity, the ethyl alcohol is, first of all, a cellular toxic. Due to its hygroscopic effect it acts as a poison for the cells, meaning that alcohol in high concentration extracts the water. At cellular level this leads to the separation of albumins existing in protoplas, in colloidal form, and finally to its coagulation, thus distroying the cell. Thus, subsequently to an abusive and long term ethyl alcohol consumption, the cells of the oral tissues and of the salivary glands will be seriously damaged. The alcohol abuse affects the structure and functioning of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and of the salivary glands. The actions of alcoholism on the oral cavity are variable. The dental lesions are represented by multiple ordinary cavities. The most striking symptom is the gingival retraction, the occurence of the gingival bag and of the tartar. When in contact with the oral mucous, the ethyl alcohol is able to produce a morphological change characterised by an epithelial atrophy which means an increased sensitivity of the tissue under the action of the carcinogenic chemical substances.