In addition to being detrimental to general health, alcohol and tobacco have many adverse effects on oral health.
Alcohol and tobacco are two of the most significant single risk factors for oral cancer, and their combined use multiplies said risk.
Poor oral hygiene combined with smoking and heavy alcohol use increases the acetaldehyde production of microbes in the mouth. Acetaldehyde is the main metabolite in alcohol and has been classified by the WHO as a carcinogenic substance.