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

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to assess the impact of chronic consumption of Cachaça on alveolar bone loss (BL) induced by ligature and on alveolar bone density (BD) in peripubertal rats.DesignMale Wistar rats were assigned into one of the following groups: Control: non-ingestion of Cachaça (n = 15); Cachaça: ingestion of ascending concentrations of Cachaça during 100 days (n = 15). 70th day after the beginning of Cachaça 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.ResultsThe Cachaça group presented greater BL (0.75 ± 0.1 mm2 for Cachaça and 0.66 ± 0.1 mm2 for control group, respectively) and number of RANKL and OPG+ cells and lower BD (60.3 ± 4.2% for Cachaça and 76.8 ± 3.8% for control group, respectively) and number of TRAP+ cells around ligated teeth (p < 0.05), when compared to the control group. The Cachaça group (0.42 ± 0.02 mm2) also presented a higher BL around unligated teeth when compared to control group (0.31 ± 0.05 mm2).ConclusionsCachaça consumption per se and in the presence of ligature negatively affects alveolar bone by increasing the alveolar BL and reducing BD.