FIVE WAYS TO AVOID PROSECCO TEETH

After a tough year, things are finally looking up. Lockdown is drawing to an end, we’re enjoying the Easter Bank holiday with Summer round the corner and even the weather is good for once! This is the perfect time to indulge with a glass of fizz but as any dentist will tell you, it’s not just a hangover you could be risking, you may find yourself developing the dreaded “Prosecco Teeth” look.

But don’t panic! You can still enjoy some cheeky bubbles in the sunshine, just follow our 5 tips below and you can keep that smile looking great.

Why is Prosecco bad for your teeth?

Honestly, all alcohol is bad for your teeth. Prosecco is one of the worst drinks because of the things that make it so popular and tasty. That extra fizz, extra sugar and the tendency for it to be sipped over long periods put it several notches above beer, wine and spirits for dental damage.

What does Prosecco do to your teeth?

Essentially Prosecco is very good at eroding both the protective enamel on the tooth’s surface and the dentine underneath. Much like with coke, regular drinkers are at increased risk of damaged, discoloured and painful teeth. All alcoholic drinks are acidic, sugary and have a dehydrating effect on the body. Prosecco just so happens to score highly in all of those categories which is why it has a reputation among dentists and why we’re singling it out.

How can you protect against Prosecco Teeth?

Here are our five tips to protect yourself and still enjoy a glass (or two!):

1 Dilute your intake with a little ice in your glass, even better would be to have a glass of water between drinks and swish it around your mouth a little before swallowing.

2 Use a straw. This will reduce contact time between the drink and your teeth and has the added effect of keeping your lipstick where it belongs instead of on your glass!

3 Chew gum between drinks to increase saliva flow and neutralise some of the acid. Even better, eat a piece of alkaline cheese such as cheddar for a similar but tastier effect.

4 After your last drink, have a swish of mouthwash to boost the recovery speed of your teeth. Naturally we recommend our Dr Denti Mouthwash Tablets as the tiny package makes it easy to fit into a purse or pocket while you’re out and about.

5 Wait an hour after your last drink before brushing your teeth. The enamel will be weakened from your drink so you need to give it time to remineralise in your saliva before scrubbing them down.

*Bonus Tip*

If you wear an orthodontic aligner, take it out while drinking if possible. The last thing you want is for an acidic drink like Prosecco to be trapped against your teeth for hours on end.

The advice here is geared towards Prosecco but it’s great to bear in mind when drinking fizzy drinks in general and the focus on hydration will also help keep the next day’s headache at bay too. Now you’re fully armed with this knowledge, the only thing left to do is pop that cork, get out there and enjoy yourself!