We all love a glass of bubbly, especially at the tail end of a long week. A glass of Prosecco or champagne seems to be an obligatory accompaniment to any celebratory occasion (or even a not-so celebratory one), but while we’re aware that drinking too much alcohol is not great for our health, it turns out drinking sparkling wines can have damaging effects on our smiles.
Celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques told Harpers Bazaar that everyone’s favourite tipple ‘has been found to contain up to a spoonful of sugar per glass’, which we all know leads to tooth decay.
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However, sugar intake is not all we have to worry about when we have Prosecco in-hand, as according to Dr Richard Marques sparkling wines and champagne ‘also contain carbonic acid (due to carbon dioxide), which can erode the enamel of teeth over time if consumed in excess’.
That being said, clear drinks like Prosecco and champagne aren’t as harmful as bubbly drinks with deeper shades (i.e. Coca Cola and other dark-shaded sodas). ‘Anything that is not clear or still can – and will – potentially cause damage if not consumed in moderation,’ said prosthodontist Mazen Natour to Allure.
Luckily, there are things you can do to minimalise enamel damage and keep your smile looking healthy, such as flossing, drinking out of a straw, washing your mouth out with water and snacking on foods such as cheese - which Allure points out ‘is rich in protein, calcium, and phosphorus, all of which can help buffer the acids in your mouth’. And, of course, drinking in moderation will help too...but maybe just stick to the other pointers instead.
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