Wine has been a popular beverage since Biblical times. It’s associated with social rituals both the simple and the grand, from a simple meeting with friends to a wedding toast.
And it has been shown that wine may actually be good for your health. But it’s not always good for your teeth. Some have recently called out Prosecco for its potential to damage your teeth, but the truth is that wine can damage your teeth–no matter what style it is. It’s important to keep this in mind when enjoying the beverage so you can make sure to avoid tooth damage.
Why Prosecco Can Be Damaging
The claims about Prosecco are true: it’s acidic and it’s sugary.
Prosecco, like all white wines, is fairly acidic. The acidity is comparable to colas, which means that it’s nearly 200 times as acidic as required to break down tooth enamel. This means that every time you’re drinking wine, you’re exposing your teeth to damaging acid that can erode them.
In addition, Prosecco does contain a fairly high sugar content for a wine. This isn’t really a concern for tooth decay reasons: each glass of Prosecco contains only about a teaspoon of sugar in each glass. The main danger with the sugar is that that it makes the wine delicious: people are more likely to drink more glasses, which means that they’re exposing themselves to more of the acid. A sweet, sippable wine is more likely to lead to more serious erosion over time.
Other Wines May Be Worse
But you shouldn’t pick on Prosecco. The Italian bubbly isn’t really any more damaging than other varieties of wine. It’s typical of white wine in terms of acidity, and many are much more acidic. In fact, the most acidic Riesling is about 3 times more acidic than your average Prosecco.
Which is not to say that all wines are as damaging and acidic. An average Pinot Noir has about one-fifth the acid of Prosecco, and, in general red wines are less acidic than whites. Although these wines can stain your teeth, the stains are generally responsive to teeth whitening.
And let’s not forget that the alcohol in wine is itself potentially hazardous to your teeth. Alcohol dries out the mouth, which can make it easier for oral bacteria to thrive.
Enjoy Wine without Risking Your Teeth
But does this mean you have to give up your favorite wine? Not at all. But it does mean you have to approach them in a smart way to avoid damaging your teeth. First, remember to consume wine in moderation. Prosecco may be tasty, but that doesn’t mean you should kill the bottle yourself! Share it with friends. That’s not just good for your teeth, it’s good for your soul.
Second, follow up a drink of wine with one of water. This will rinse the acid away and help stave off dehydration. At the very least, try to intersperse glasses of water between your glasses of wine.
Third, there’s a good reason why cheese often accompanies wine: it can neutralize the acid and strengthen your teeth.
Fourth, make sure you’re remembering to brush after parties. It may be late. You may not feel well. But please remember to brush.
Finally, make sure you are visiting your dentist regularly. That will allow us to check your oral health and then we can tell you whether your Prosecco habit is actually bad for your teeth or not. We can also recommend reconstructive dentistry as necessary.
If you are overdue for a dentist’s appointment in Columbus, OH, please call (614) 848-5001 today for an appointment with dentist Dr. Mike Firouzian at Firouzian Dentistry.
