If you’re planning to see in the new year with a glass or two of prosecco, be weary — too much of the tipple could leave you with rotten, yellow teeth.
The Italian sparkling wine’s high sugar content and acidity could rip through your tooth enamel, leading to severe discolouration, dentists have warned.
The phenomenon of ‘prosecco teeth’ — as coined by oral health experts — could even see drinkers needing fillings or even cosmetic work in the new year.
Dr Sahil Patel, founder of Marylebone Smile Clinic said: ‘Amongst dentists, it has been reported that dental decay affecting the front incisors spikes 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 amounts for everyone.
‘The problem is the constant sugar exposure in the mouth creates a situation where decay can affect the front teeth, possibly requiring fillings and/or cosmetic work later on in the new year.
‘Prosecco has a dangerous potency to cause decay, hence the term prosecco teeth.’
In just a few years, the light, fizzy alcoholic beverage has trounced all rivals to become the nation’s favourite celebratory drink
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Dr Patel is not the only dentist to warn against the inexpensive booze.
Dr Nyree Whitley, chief clinical officer for mydentist, said: ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news for prosecco lovers.
‘While an enjoyable festive tipple, the acidity in it can damage your enamel and could, in turn, lead to discolouration.’
Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser for the British Dental Association, also said: ‘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 drink more acidic. Added to that, prosecco comes with about one teaspoon of sugar per flute.’
When sugar is consumed it interacts with bacteria in the mouth to produce acid.
This acid is responsible for tooth decay because it slowly dissolves the enamel creating holes or cavities in the teeth.
The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol — around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer — per week
Prosecco’s extra fizz, extra sugar and the tendency for it to be sipped over long periods put it several notches above beer, other sparkling wines and spirits for dental damage, experts say.
Brits are believed to consume roughly 131 million bottles of prosecco every year — nearly two bottles per person — while surveys consistently find it to be the most popular alcoholic drink for special occasions.
The UK is also thought to be the largest market in the world, importing over a third of all the prosecco shipped worldwide.
Dr Patel said: ‘If you want to enjoy a festive tipple, I recommend drinking a clear liquor which is less acidic and contains less sugars which in turn, will cause less damage to your teeth.’
Dr Whitley meanwhile also advised people not to brush their teeth immediately after drinking the alcohol over fears it could scrub the acid around your mouth and do more damage.
Instead, she suggested waiting at least 30 minutes after drinking to clean your teeth.
Leading experts have argued about the harms of moderate drinking for decades.
It came under the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.
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The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol — around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer — per week.
This itself has been watered down over the past few decades in light of studies illustrating the health dangers of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the US says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks a week and men can have 14.
Scientists across the board agree that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently damage the liver, cause an array of cancers and drive up blood pressure.
It puts a strain on the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Binge drinking — sometimes defined by consuming five drinks within two hours —can make the heart beat irregularly, triggering symptoms including breathlessness, tiredness and increased blood pressure.
The World Health Organisation estimate alcohol kills three million people around the world each year.
