A tipsy smile can be a healthy smile

Sparkling wine may not be fine…
 
Everyone loves clinking a glass of sparkling wine at a garden party. But that sweet taste comes from the highly acidic mixture of alcohol, sugar and carbonation. This is a danger to your teeth, as an unregulated intake of it can cause dental erosion. Prosecco accounts for 45% of UK sparkling wine sales and has seen continued growth in the 2020s.[i] But, cases of ‘Prosecco Teeth’ are also on the rise. The drink is 200 times more acidic than what is needed for your tooth enamel (the harder outer layer) to break down.[ii] When white lines form on the gums, tooth decay is beginning.[iii]
 
Do not worry – you can still enjoy a glass of bubbly on your deckchair! Using a straw will stop the acidic alcohol touching your teeth as much, and what is the harm in having a swish of water between glasses to wash your mouth out?
 
Avoiding the Dracula look
 
You should be careful drinking red wine because of its effect on your teeth. Red wine turns your pearly whites into beetroot-coloured teeth in a matter of sips. Small compounds called tannins bind the purple pigments to your teeth and wine’s acidity will damage the enamel.[iv]
 
Preventing staining is simple. Having water with red wine can protect your teeth from the acid by defending the enamel.[v] Dairy products, like cheese, are good to have with wine because of their calcium compounds.[vi] These promote the strengthening of enamel and help neutralise the acidity of the mouth. If you know you will be having a glass or two of red wine, brush and floss your teeth beforehand to remove any plaque. Plaque attracts staining compounds and causes tooth decay, so ensure your mouth is as clean as possible before uncorking that merlot.[vii]
 
Dry mouth
 
Wines are not the only enemy of oral health. Hyposalivation, or dry mouth, can be caused by the intake of any alcoholic drink.[viii] Saliva is immensely important to your oral health: it washes bacteria and food particles off the teeth, neutralises harmful acids, and repairs weak tooth enamel.[ix]
 
The combination of a hot summer’s day and a high alcohol intake can lead to dehydration and oral dryness. With insufficient saliva, your mouth loses one of its best defences and tooth enamel will weaken. You will be vulnerable to oral health risks. Drinking lots of water will also help beat dry mouth by keeping you hydrated. It may help beat the hangover, too. Chewing sugar-free gum will also get your saliva flowing on the hot, boozy days of the summer.[x]
 
Relaxing with a drink is no bad way to spend the summer, but make sure that you have enough water and a consistent oral hygiene routine to protect your teeth. And maybe some gum.
 
 
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[i] April 6, L.B. and 2023 (2023). Spotlight on sparkling – retail data analysis - Drinks Retailing. [online] Drinks Retailing - Championing the off-trade since 1863. Available at: https://drinksretailingnews.co.uk/spotlight-on-sparkling-retail-data-analysis/.

http://www.just-drinks.com/data-insights/sparkling-wine-market-size-the-uk/?cf-view
kgi-admin (2023). The UK sparkling wine market – a deep-dive analysis. [online] Just Drinks. Available at: https://www.just-drinks.com/data-insights/sparkling-wine-market-size-the-uk/?cf-view.

[ii] Bottle Raiders. (2023). Gin and Tonic Recommended as Safer Alternative to Beer, Wine as Dental Expert Issues ‘Prosecco Teeth’ Warning. [online] Available at: https://bottleraiders.com/article/gin-and-tonic-safer-option-prosecco-teeth-warning/.

[iii] Bottle Raiders. (2023). Gin and Tonic Recommended as Safer Alternative to Beer, Wine as Dental Expert Issues ‘Prosecco Teeth’ Warning. [online] Available at: https://bottleraiders.com/article/gin-and-tonic-safer-option-prosecco-teeth-warning/.

[iv] www.colgate.com. (n.d.). How To Avoid Red Wine Teeth? | Colgate. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-avoid-red-wine-teeth-this-holiday-season#.

[v] www.colgate.com. (n.d.). How To Avoid Red Wine Teeth? | Colgate. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-avoid-red-wine-teeth-this-holiday-season#.

[vi] Farias da Cruz, M., Baraúna Magno, M., Alves Jural, L., Pimentel, T.C., Masterson Tavares Pereira Ferreira, D., Almeida Esmerino, E., Luis Paiva Anciens Ramos, G., Vicente Gomila, J., Cristina Silva, M., Cruz, A.G. da, da Silva Fidalgo, T.K. and Cople Maia, L. (2022). Probiotics and dairy products in dentistry: A bibliometric and critical review of randomized clinical trials. Food Research International, [online] 157, p.111228. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111228.

[vii] www.colgate.com. (n.d.). How To Avoid Red Wine Teeth? | Colgate. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-avoid-red-wine-teeth-this-holiday-season#.

[viii] Inenaga, K., Ono, K., Hitomi, S., Kuroki, A., & Ujihara, I. (2017). Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake. Japanese Dental Science Review, 53(3), 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdsr.2016.12.001

[ix] www.colgate.com. (n.d.). How To Avoid Red Wine Teeth? | Colgate. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-avoid-red-wine-teeth-this-holiday-season#.

[x] www.colgate.com. (n.d.). How To Avoid Red Wine Teeth? | Colgate. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-avoid-red-wine-teeth-this-holiday-season#.