If you plan to ring in the new year with a glass or two of prosecco, don’t worry: too much of the drink could leave your teeth yellow and rotten.
Dentists have warned that the high sugar content and acidity of Italian sparkling wine could tear tooth enamel and cause serious discoloration.
The “prosecco teeth” phenomenon, as oral health experts coined it, could even leave drinkers needing fillings or even cosmetic work in the new year.
Dr Sahil Patel, founder of Marylebone Smile Clinic, said: “Among dentists, tooth decay affecting the front incisors has been reported to increase during the festive season.
‘Prosecco poses a unique problem in that it is a relatively sweet-tasting, ubiquitous, affordable, high-sugar, acidic and carbonated drink.
‘All these aspects make it extremely popular and accessible in large quantities to everyone.
‘The problem is that constant exposure to sugar in the mouth creates a situation where cavities can affect the front teeth, possibly requiring fillings and/or cosmetic work later in the new year.
“Prosecco has a dangerous potency to cause cavities, hence the term Prosecco teeth.”
In just a few years, this light, fizzy alcoholic drink has surpassed all its rivals and become the country’s favorite celebration drink.
Dr. Patel is not the only dentist to warn against cheap alcohol.
Dr Nyree Whitley, clinical director at mydentist, said: “I’m afraid I have some bad news for prosecco lovers.
“While it is a pleasant holiday drink, its acidity can damage enamel and, in turn, cause discoloration.”
Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, also said: “Prosecco delivers a triple whammy of carbonation, sweetness and alcohol, which can put teeth at risk, causing sensitivity and enamel erosion.
‘Carbonated drinks get their effervescence due to the release of carbon dioxide, which dissolves into carbonic acid.
‘This provides a refreshing taste but also makes these drinks more acidic. On top of that, prosecco comes with about a teaspoon of sugar per flute.
When sugar is consumed, it interacts with bacteria in the mouth to produce acid.
This acid is responsible for cavities because it slowly dissolves the enamel creating holes or cavities in the teeth.
The NHS recommends that people drink no more than 14 “units” of alcohol (around six glasses of wine or pints of beer) per week.
Prosecco’s extra fizz, excess sugar and tendency to drink it for long periods put it several notches above beer, other sparkling wines and liqueurs for tooth damage, experts say.
Brits are thought to consume approximately 131 million bottles of prosecco each year (almost two bottles per person), while surveys consistently find it to be the most popular alcoholic drink for special occasions.
The UK is also believed to be the world’s largest market, importing more than a third of all prosecco shipped worldwide.
Dr Patel said: “If you want to enjoy a festive drink, I recommend drinking a clear liquor that is less acidic and contains fewer sugars, which in turn will cause less damage to your teeth.”
Dr. Whitley meanwhile also advised People don’t brush their teeth immediately after drinking alcohol for fear that it may rub the acid around the mouth and cause more damage.
Instead, he suggested waiting at least 30 minutes after drinking to clean your teeth.
Leading experts have argued about the harms of moderate alcohol consumption for decades.
It came under the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.
The NHS recommends that people drink no more than 14 “units” of alcohol (around six glasses of wine or pints of beer) per week.
This same thing has been diluted in recent decades in light of studies that illustrate the dangers of alcohol for health.
Meanwhile, the United States says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks a week and men can have 14..
All scientists agree that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently damage the liver, cause a variety of cancers, and increase blood pressure.
It puts pressure on the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Excessive alcohol consumption, sometimes defined by consuming five drinks in two hours, can cause the heart to beat irregularly, triggering symptoms including shortness of breath, tiredness and increased blood pressure.
The World Health Organization estimates that alcohol kills three million people worldwide each year.