For many of you ladies and gents, Saturday nights would not be the same without your favourite glass of bubbly. Well, you might have second doubts about sipping a few glasses of prosecco. The Daily Mail spoke to an expert panel of dentists who revealed prosecco damages both teeth enamel and gums.
Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry spoke about the dangers of people fond of prosecco, especially women, and the possibility of developing a 'prosecco smile' over time:
Women especially enjoy prosecco but unlike wine, which you often have with a meal, it is very easy to just keep sipping prosecco and have a few glasses without noticing. It is acidic and it has sugar in it so, while a few glasses are fine, if you drink too much of it you are going to have a problem.
How can you spot if you're developing a prosecco smile? According to Druian, the signs begin to show on your gums:
The signs of prosecco smile are where the teeth come out of the gum. It starts with a white line just below the gum, which if you probe it is a little bit soft, and that is the beginning of tooth decay which can lead to fillings and dental work.
Adding to this already worrying information, a Professor for the British Dental Association, Damien Walsh, said:
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Prosecco offers a triple whammy of carbonation, sweetness and alcohol, which can put your teeth at risk, leading to sensitivity and enamel erosion.Carbonated beverages get their fizz from the release of carbon dioxide, which dissolves into carbonic acid. This provides a refreshing taste but also makes these drinks more acidic. Added to that, prosecco comes with about one teaspoon of sugar per flute.
Post-Celtic Tiger, prosecco replaced champagne as a cheap alternative and remains one of the most consumed drinks in Ireland. In the UK alone, sales of the drink grew by 34% last year.
Experts are recommending a number of solutions to the problem. Firstly, drink the liquid through a straw, don't consume more than a couple of glasses and avoid brushing your teeth for a few hours to let the enamel harden.
