Effects of Cachaça, a typical Brazilian alcoholic beverage, on alveolar bone loss and density: A study in peripubertal rats

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of chronic consumption of Cachaca on alveolar bone loss (BL) induced by ligature and on alveolar bone density (BD) in peripubertal rats. Design Male Wistar rats were assigned into one of the following groups: Control : non-ingestion of Cachaca ( n  = 15); Cachaca: ingestion of ascending concentrations of Cachaca during 100 days ( n  = 15). 70th day after the beginning of Cachaca ingestion, one first mandibular molar received a ligature while the contralateral tooth was left unligated. After 30 days, the rats were killed. BL, BD, the positive cells for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were analyzed in the furcation area of the ligated and unligated mandibular molars. Results The Cachaca group presented greater BL (0.75 ± 0.1 mm 2 for Cachaca and 0.66 ± 0.1 mm 2 for control group, respectively) and number of RANKL and OPG+ cells and lower BD (60.3 ± 4.2% for Cachaca and 76.8 ± 3.8% for control group, respectively) and number of TRAP+ cells around ligated teeth ( p Cachaca group (0.42 ± 0.02 mm 2 ) also presented a higher BL around unligated teeth when compared to control group (0.31 ± 0.05 mm 2 ). Conclusions Cachaca consumption per se and in the presence of ligature negatively affects alveolar bone by increasing the alveolar BL and reducing BD.