Enjoying a glass of white wine on a frequent basis can damage the teeth, something many wine makers and tasters will know first-hand, experts say.
It is not the wine’s vintage, origin or alcohol that are key but its pH and duration of contact with the teeth. The acidic punch erodes enamel far more than red wine and it is the calcium in teeth that the wine attacks.
In the lab, adult teeth soaked in white wine for a day had a loss of both calcium and another mineral called phosphorus to depths of up to 60 micrometers in the enamel surface, which the researchers say is significant.
Even if people brush their teeth after a night of drinking, over the years repeated exposure could take its toll. In fact excessive brushing might make matters worse and lead to further loss of enamel.
But it’s the way you consume it that’s all important. If you’re going to have a glass of wine do so with your meal and leave a break of at least 30 minutes afterwards before you brush your teeth.
[Source]
Chapter: Dental Care :: 5 January 2010
