We all know that alcohol contains high sugar levels due to both the ingredients and manufacturing processes, but how much is too much when it comes to prosecco? The fizzy Italian alcoholic drink commonly known as a cheaper version of champagne has been hitting the headlines for both good and bad. Here at Widcombe Dental Practice, we will take a look at what is causing the so-called ‘prosecco smile’ and ways to avoid tooth loss.

The love affair of prosecco

The soaring popularity of prosecco started in the UK around six years ago and consumption has  doubled since then. Interestingly, prosecco is one of the least calorific bottles on the wine shelf at only 80 calories per flute, compared to a glass of white wine at 140 calories. Of course, this is good for those cutting down on the numbers, but for everyone, it’s not so much of a good story when it comes to your teeth.

Speaking to the Independent, Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser for the British Dental Association, commented: “Prosecco offers a triple whammy of carbonation, sweetness and alcohol, which can put your teeth at risk, leading to sensitivity and enamel erosion.

“Carbonated beverages get their fizz from the release of carbon dioxide, which dissolves into carbonic acid. This provides a refreshing taste but also makes these drink more acidic. Asses to that, the prosecco comes with about one teaspoon of sugar per flute.”

It’s no wonder why people are having to visit their dental hygienists on a regular basis.

The warning signs of prosecco smile

The signs and symptoms of tooth decay shouldn’t be ignored, so make sure you book an appointment with your local Bath dental clinic or other dental service if you have these symptoms:

• Toothache or tooth sensitivity
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Grey, brown or black spots on your teeth
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth

Furthermore, Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, commented: The signs of a prosecco smile are where the teeth come out of the gum. It starts with a white line just below the gum, which if you probe it is a little bit soft, and that is the beginning of tooth decay which can lead to fillings and dental work.”

What can I do to avoid tooth decay?

Apart from cutting down on drinking prosecco, there are alternative ways to avoid tooth decay and tooth loss:

• Avoid brushing your teeth an hour after drinking prosecco, as the acid and sugar can attack and erode the enamel which protects your teeth.
• Look into dental hygiene treatments or even veneer procedures which can effectively reduce the risk of tooth loss. Is definitely worth the time and money to protect the teeth in the long-run, causing fewer problems in the future.
• Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol excessively. The tobacco in cigarettes can interfere with saliva production which contributes to healthy, clean teeth.

Widcombe Dental Practice

If you need more information on tooth decay or tooth loss and are looking for effective Veneer treatments in Bath, as well as other dental services to help combat the effects of sugar, contact our professional team at Widcombe Dental Practice today.

Traditionally, us Brits are known for having notoriously bad teeth. The stereotype is obviously an archaic one, we’ve kept our teeth in good nick for years now! You could say we’re even a little bit obsessed with our teeth: we want them clean, we want them straight, and most importantly, we want them white. It has been reported that one in six British residents say they have had their teeth whitened before. We’re very aware of this as we provide a brilliant teeth whitening service and have made hundreds of Bath residents happier with their smile.

Recently, astutely aware of this growing demand, there have been reports of pirate providers. As ever with human nature, when an industry starts making money people will try to piggyback off it and make a quick buck. Teeth whitening is no different.

Exposed by the BBC

A few weeks ago the BBC exposed a handful of beauticians offering a teeth whitening service. Right off the bat, it’s illegal, as only licensed dental professionals are legally allowed to perform teeth whitening services. And it doesn’t stop there. By law, the max amount of hydrogen peroxide you’re allowed to use when enacting these procedures is 6%. Some have been using up to 25%. This can cause tooth loss, burns, and blisters. We don’t want that for you and we’d be strongly surprised if you wanted that for yourself.

Some of these beauticians offering the service have only had a day’s training in the procedure. Which is worrying, to say the least. How can you avoid these horrendous sounding happenings? Very simple, really; come to us. At Widcombe Dental Practice, a Bath dentist, you’ll receive a

Professional Service

Fears of tooth loss, burns, and blisters are the last thing you want when getting your teeth whitened; one shouldn’t ever have to fear such dreadful things. With us, this simply won’t be a worry. You can anticipate your teeth whitening totally devoid of stress. Come the procedure? You’ll feel at ease in the hands of our professionally trained team.

Great Results

We’ve never had an unhappy client when it comes to our teeth whitening service. We know exactly how to achieve either optimum or the exact results you want. As you can make teeth too white – just look at this specific Premiership football player. You don’t want that. You want a certain subtlety to your excellence.

Someone Who You Can Return To

Very often when we begin treating customers, they return to us. A lot. They sometimes get one of our other treatments too, like Invisalign for example. Some come in for cosmetic care and then begin using us for dental treatment and vice versa. With Widcombe Dental Practice, you have somewhere you can trust and who you know is going to do a proper job.

Watch Out For The Teeth Whitening Pirates!

We want you all to receive the dental and cosmetic treatments you deserve, not to be left in pain and at a loss! To make sure that doesn’t happen, book with us. It’s so easy! You can either contact us via our online booking system or give us a call. Either way works for us!

When we hear the phrase ‘cancer awareness’ our brains usually go to adverts reminding us to check our testicles and breasts. Whilst those two versions of cancer most certainly need awareness, there is a prevalent and lethal form of cancer which we regularly ignore. Why this happens is rather transparent, breast cancer and testicular cancer are both insulated with flawless marketing campaigns. For us, it feels rather sordid for people to risk death due to poor marketing, so we’re taking time today to highlight the importance of mouth cancer awareness.

Mouth cancer, arguably the least popular member of the cancer family, is also perhaps the meanest. But as said earlier, it isn’t the sadistic tendencies of these cancers that get them noticed, it’s the adverts. Which is a rather harrowing fact, but nonetheless expected in our advert-driven culture.

Today we’re listing the stats and facts of mouth cancer, the causes, and also showing a couple of posters which illustrate the symptoms and how to check for mouth cancer.

One in seven have mouth cancer

That’s right, one in seven. Stifling, isn’t it? On a football pitch, with people of all ages, per average, there should be three people suffering from mouth cancer. Which would make very bad colour commentary, but really does illustrate how omnipresent the disease is.

Someone is diagnosed with mouth cancer every 69 minutes

In that conceptual game of football, where 3 players are already suffering from mouth cancer – within the stats of this disease – it’s totally feasible to say that another player will be diagnosed in the 54th minute (taking 15 minutes away for halftime).

Whilst it would be the most unorthodox, harrowing football game in the history of time, it’s totally possible. Thus the need to take this form of cancer very seriously.

The rate of which diagnosis has increased in the last decade is ⅓

The disease is getting more coverage, and yet 21% of the population still state they aren’t aware of mouth cancer. Say this hypothetical football match took place at Manchester United’s Old Trafford and the game achieved Man United’s average attendance (75,290), 15,810 people wouldn’t have any knowledge about the on-pitch commotion.

These football hypotheticals may seem playful when they’re regarding a far-from-playful notion, but we’re simply utilising them to illustrate the starkness of this disease, and in turn, our ignorance of it.

Mouth cancer – in the UK – takes more lives than testicular and cervical cancer combined

As we said, sadistic. This form of cancer takes no prisoners, but this stat is perhaps only this high as the awareness of the cancer is so low. People don’t know how to check for it. People don’t know the causes. People don’t know the symptoms. People quite simply don’t know, and that is the biggest worry.

There is a possibility of mouth cancer affecting everyone, but there are a few lifestyle choices which heighten your chance of infection. You are more likely to get mouth cancer if you:

• Smoke: tobacco changes the countenance of saliva, resultantly making your mouth a stewing pot for mouth cancer. The cancer is implored to develop and grow due to the making of your cells cancerous.
• Drink alcohol: more than a third of male cases are linked to excessive alcohol consumption. A fifth of female cases are related to the same issue. If you heavily drink and smoke, which unfortunately a large amount of our country do, you are 35 times more likely to get mouth cancer. 35!
• Have contracted HPV: whilst HPV isn’t a lifestyle choice, the disease has a strong correlation with mouth cancer. Experts have suggested that HPV can rival smoking and drinking as a main
  cause. Stay protected.
• Aren’t eating as well as you could: people who eat a healthy diet revolving around fruit and vegetables have significantly less chance of contracting mouth cancer. Eat well, be healthy. Simple.
• Chew tobacco: there is a myth that chewing tobacco is healthier than smoking. This isn’t true. It, in fact, is much, much worse. Chewing tobacco is far from natural; it has been known to be made with slaked lime, flavourings, and sweeteners. This isn’t good for mouth cancer prevention.

Mouth cancer is only predicted to grow. Which – paired with all the aforementioned information – should be enough for us to take a stand against mouth cancer. We need to spread awareness of the disease and increase knowledge on how to check for it. You can make sure you’re safe with regular dental treatments.

At Widcombe Dental Practice we’re purely interested in the oral wellbeing of our customers. If our article today has nerved you in any way, come in for a check-up. We’ll soothe your qualms with a quick survey of your mouth. Contact us now to book your appointment (01225 317 681)