[00:00.235]In many countries, white wines such as Chardonnay
[00:03.898]are the preferred choice when people have seafood or poultry dishes.
[00:08.375]And they certainly don’t stain your teeth, tongue or lips like red wines do.
[00:13.780]However findings published in the journal of Nutrition Research,
[00:18.255]may come as a revelation to most drinkers.
[00:21.387]It’s claimed that enjoying a glass of white wine on a frequent basis can damage your teeth,
[00:27.248]because of the high acidity levels in white wine
[00:29.620]it can erode the tooth enamel more quickly than red wine.
[00:33.280]The team of researchers examined the effects
[00:36.406]on teeth of eight red and eight white wines from different parts of the world.
[00:40.900]In the lab, adult teeth soaked in white wine for a day
[00:44.949]suffered a loss of both calcium and a mineral
[00:48.258]called phosphorus to depths of up to 60 micrometers in the enamel surface,
[00:53.245]which the researchers say is significant.
[00:56.302]And the matter isn’t helped by brushing your teeth soon after drinking,
[01:00.206]as excessive brushing action can lead to further loss of enamel.
[01:04.419]Also the effects can be made worse by how frequently you sip your wine.
[01:09.873]But the study wasn’t all bad news for wine lovers.
[01:13.936]By having cheese or creamy desserts, the acid attacks can be reduced.
[01:19.199]“The tradition of enjoying different cheeses for dessert,
[01:23.403]or in combination with drinking wine,
[01:25.418]might have a beneficial effect on preventing dental erosion
[01:28.826]since cheeses contain calcium in a high concentration," the scientists added.
[01:34.623]Professor Damien Walmsley, of the British Dental Association,
[01:38.075]recommended a 30 minute break between drinking and brushing and to drink wine with food.
[01:44.248]“Consuming wine alongside food, rather than on its own,
[01:48.204]means the saliva you produce as you chew
[01:50.834]helps to neutralise its acidity and limits its erosive potential.”