Dentist warns of prosecco danger to teeth

Richard says the UK’s love affair with prosecco is causing huge problems and is leading to increased levels of both erosion and decay.

The warning comes on the back of figures which recently revealed the UK’s prosecco drinking habits have risen from two million litres in 2009, to an astonishing 77m last year – which accounts for one third of all of the prosecco drank in the world.

Carbonated soft drinks and fizzy alcohol are both capable of causing huge amounts of damage to teeth because of acid erosion, which can damage both dentine and enamel.

But, according to Richard, prosecco is twice as problematic as other drinks.

“Prosecco is the double whammy – the acidity causes erosion but because it’s so sweet, it also contributes to tooth decay,” he said. “It is much worse than champagne because that isn’t so sweet.”

Richard says that the lower the pH level, the more damaging it is to the teeth.