Dentist warns drinking 1 tipple at Christmas could ‘make teeth yellow’
You could be ruining your teeth this Christmas by going overboard with one drink. The festive is nearly upon us, which means it’s pretty standard to pop open a bottle of bubbly to toast to the occasion.
Many Brits will be lining up a few glasses of fizz this season, but did you know certain tipples could be ruining your pearly whites? According to one dentist, it’s not looking good for people who love a glass (or two) of Prosecco.
Dr Nyree Whitley, a chief clinical officer at mydentist, said: “I’m afraid I have some bad news for Prosecco lovers – while an enjoyable festive tipple, the acidity in Prosecco can damage your enamel and could, in turn, lead to discolouration.
“To keep your smile sparkling this festive season, try cutting back on the Prosecco or drink it through a straw to minimise the effects of its acidity, which temporarily softens your enamel.”
The dentist, who has more than 20 years of experience, also warned against brushing your teeth too soon after consuming Prosecco or any alcohol as it could “spread acid around your mouth and damage your enamel”.
Enamel is vital for protecting your teeth from damage and staining so if you do have a drink before bedtime, she advises waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Meanwhile, ‘Prosecco teeth’ was a popular term in previous years after being discussed across multiple social media platforms. Echoing Dr Whitley’s warnings, Dentist Vanessa Creaven, from Spotlight Oral Care, shared on TikTok: “Drinks like Prosecco and Champagne are notoriously fizzy but they’re also very acidic.
“This is the perfect combination to cause extreme and significant erosion to your teeth. Erosion on your teeth looks like thinning enamel, it looks like translucent enamel, it looks like your greying enamel.”
Dr Vanessa also recommends drinking festive fizz through a straw and chewing gum for a “natural buffer” as it activates the salivary glands.
Meanwhile, Whitley advises a check-up with the dentist if you experience any increase in tooth sensitivity as it could be a sign of gum disease.
Symptoms to look out for in your mouth:
- White, grey, brown or black spots on your teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Smelly breath
- Toothache
- Increased sensitivity
It’s important to see your dentist if you notice anything different about your teeth over the Christmas period.
Dr Whitley added: “If you have a sweet tooth and tend to reach for sweet, sugary treats, then you may want to switch them out for something a little softer and less high in sugar content, such as dark chocolate.
“While lower in sugar content, chocolate will still provide you with satisfaction of fulfilling cravings for sweeter food during the festive season and is less likely to cause any damage to your teeth.
“Better yet, if you opt for the cheeseboard then you’ll benefit from calcium and phosphate which will help to strengthen your teeth and balance the pH level in your mouth, reducing harmful acids, which will cause you less cavities in the long run.”
She recommends maintaining balance in our diets to help with good oral health. Christmas dinner staples, like the consistently divisive Brussels sprouts are “a great source of calcium and vitamin C” which can help make your teeth strong.
