Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany, examined the effects of eight red and white wines from various countries on the enamel of teeth removed from men and women aged 40 to 65.

They found that prolonged contact with white wine erodes the protective layer of teeth making them more sensitive to cold, hot and sweet food and drinks.

Teeth soaked in white wines for 24 hours sustained more damage than those left overnight in red wines, says the journal Nutrition Research. “Within the limits of this study, it can be predicted that frequent consumption of white wines might lead to severe dental erosion,” claimed Dr Brita Willershausen.

Other culprits from recent research are orange juice, fizzy drinks, lemon, and grapefruit juice. The acids in these drinks soften the enamel so that immediate brushing can make matters worse.

However, calcium ingestion may provide some sort of defence. The tradition of having cheese with wine, for example, may be an intuitive reaction to the problem

Perhaps a glass of milk swirled round the mouth may also assist in counteracting the acid attack.

A year or two ago there was a big fuss about Triclosan, which was the main antibacterial agent in most toothpastes. The publicity resulted in many products being taken off the shelves and other agents being substituted for Triclosan.

Now, however, I’ve noticed Triclosan is back, at least in the cheaper own-brand products of the big supermarkets.

The original fuss occurred because it apparently reacted with the chlorine in normal domestic water to produce toxins that could be harmful over time. Despite that, it remains the best of the antibacterials.

On an individual level, we can simply use filtered water to brush our teeth. Popular filter systems, like Brita, do remove most of the chlorine in water, and osmotic systems are even better.

So, stick to Triclosan and eliminate the chlorine instead. That is the healthy alternative to reading every toothpaste label.