Sour grapes from Italy claims that Prosecco rots teeth

Italians have reacted furiously to British claims that drinking too much Prosecco can damage your teeth.

Earlier this week top UK dentists warned drinking the fizzy and sugary tipple too often can lead to a ‘Prosecco smile’ – which consists of gaps, receding gums, cavities and rotten teeth.

But Italian political figures have dismissed the claims and even branded the reports ‘fake news’.

Italians have reacted furiously to British claims that drinking too much Prosecco (file photo) can damage your teeth

The agricultural minister of Italy, Maurizio Martina, took to twitter to ask for the British media to ‘tell the truth.’

He tweeted at one newspaper: ‘Dear Guardian, tell the truth – Prosecco makes British people smile too! Stop fake news please.’

Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto Region – a large producer of Prosecco – also replied to an online story on social media.

He wrote: ‘It’s definitely fake news, so let’s just leave it there.

‘However, our British friends know very well where there is Prosecco there is a smile, so good that they celebrate it, and consume it more every day.’

The outspoken figure also branded the claims as the ‘umpteenth Anglo Saxon crusade against Italian products’.

The governor of northern region Friuli-Venezia-Guilia, Deborah Serrachiani, also tweeted about the claims.

She joked: ‘After Brexit, we need to help the people of Great Britain smile again. In modest quantities, our Prosecco works wonders.’

UK dentists warned drinking Prosecco (file photo) too often can lead to a 'Prosecco smile' ¿ which consists of gaps, receding gums, cavities and rotten teeth

UK dentists warned drinking Prosecco (file photo) too often can lead to a ‘Prosecco smile’ – which consists of gaps, receding gums, cavities and rotten teeth

The dismissal comes after Italian agricultural union announced that Italy was set for one of its smallest post-war wine harvests.

Britons drank more than 40million litres of Prosecco last year and it is regularly on special offer at supermarkets. The market grew by 34 per cent last year and is expected to continue growing.

Last weekend saw hundreds of people queuing outside Lidl stores to get their hands on bottles of Prosecco selling for £3.33 each.

Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, said earlier this week: ‘Women especially enjoy prosecco but unlike wine, which you often have with a meal, it is very easy to just keep sipping prosecco and have a few glasses without noticing. 

‘It is acidic and it has sugar in it so, while a few glasses are fine, if you drink too much of it you are going to have a problem. 

‘The signs of 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.’

And Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser for the British Dental Association, said: ‘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 drinks more acidic. Added to that, prosecco comes with about one teaspoon of sugar per flute.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk