Confused about red wine and teeth? Blame Canada!
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Red wine and teeth, are they a good blend?
A new medical report published last week says no, confirming my fear that going to all those tastings can’t be doing my teeth any good. Roll the tape from Wines & Vines, a trade publication:
Dr. Sami Youakim, a consultant with Occupational Disease Services, WorkSafeBC (British Columbia’s worker compensation board), published a study of wine industry health hazards in the October edition of BC Medical Journal. In addition to well-known problems including musculoskeletal disorders, asthma caused by mite exposure, illnesses caused by exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, and confined-space risks, Youakim singled out the potential for dental erosions from frequent wine tasting by winemakers and other staff, noting that the pH of wines ranges from 3.2 to 3.8 and demineralization of enamel commences at a pH of less than 5.7.
Heh. A wine blogger’s occupational hazard! I’m calling OSHA!
But this finding from British Columbia clashes a previous finding from medical researchers in Quebec who found that a red wine rinse can prevent gum disease!
Canadian scientists believe the polyphenols can block production of free radical molecules, high levels of which can damage gum tissue.
Yikes, how confusing! Canada on Canada action! Sacrifice enamel or stimulate gums? The researchers will have a brush-off for supremacy.
One of the "seven best wine blogs." 
One of the three best wine blogs
On November 17th, 2006 at 5:29 pm ,GollyGumDrops wrote:
So can I buy Listerene Merlot now?
On November 17th, 2006 at 7:37 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Yeah but only in Quebec.