Festive fizz lovers have been issued a stark warning about the hidden damage prosecco could be causing to their teeth, according to a leading dental expert.
The Perfect Storm for Dental Erosion
Dr Murray Pratt from Forever Dental and Skin has identified that certain popular drinks create what he describes as "a perfect erosion combo" for tooth enamel. Prosecco emerges as one of the worst offenders due to its dangerous combination of high acidity levels and substantial sugar content.
"Prosecco is a very acidic drink - as are many white wines," Dr Pratt explained. "It's hundreds of times more acidic than what's needed to start softening tooth enamel, so even one glass is enough to put your teeth under stress."
Recognising the Warning Signs
The dental specialist revealed that a clear indicator your prosecco habit is harming your teeth is the appearance of a faint white line developing on your tooth near the gum line.
Dr Pratt detailed: "If you press the area it can feel a little soft - that's the early stage of decay. Left unchecked, it can progress to cavities, fillings and more invasive treatments down the line."
How to Protect Your Smile
Fortunately, there are practical strategies to continue enjoying your favourite sparkling drink while safeguarding your dental health. Dr Pratt recommends drinking through a straw to minimise contact with teeth and ensuring you eat food while consuming alcoholic beverages.
"Cheese is great because it helps stimulate saliva and can neutralise some of the harmful acids," the expert noted. "Saliva is your mouth's natural defence system - it's constantly working to protect the enamel."
Prosecco isn't the only beverage posing risks to your dental health. Dr Pratt also cautioned that heavy, dark beers like stout can contribute to yellowing due to strong pigments from darker malts that cling to enamel over time.
Red wine mixtures also present dangers, particularly when combined with sugary, acidic mixers like cola, lemonade, energy drinks, syrups and orange juice. "They bathe the teeth in sugar and acid, which is exactly what cavity-causing bacteria thrive on," Dr Pratt warned.
For those wanting to maintain their smile while socialising, the dentist suggests opting for lighter beverages such as gin and tonic or lighter beers with higher water content.
