All of the scientific studies that have strongly indicated the healthful benefits of consuming moderate amounts of wine on a daily basis are great news for wine makers.

Although the federal government prohibits winery owners from publishing anything that in any way refers to the health-related properties of wine, the owners may tell you about such studies in person.

I assume that means wineries also are prohibited from telling us of the health-related drawbacks to consuming moderate amounts of wine — although at the moment I can think of only one such property.

And that is what the prolonged use of wine could do to the teeth.

I have spoken with dentists about this, and most do not see a serious problem with wine and tooth decay. It is true that all wine contains acid, and consuming wine means the teeth are in contact with acid that could, I suppose, attack tooth enamel.

But most people drink wine moderately and usually with food, which buffers the impact of the acid.

I have heard about this drawback to wine only with professional wine judges, many of whom taste (and spit) 100 to 200 wines a day for days at a time.

The worst stories of tooth damage among professional wine tasters comes from the Champagne district of France, where some old-timer wine tasters can have serious tooth deterioration from the high-acid nature of such wines.

It's well known that the acid in wine can demineralize the teeth and lead to a greater chance of decay. Now, a recently developed chemical compound offers a potential solution.

The compound, called Recaldent, seems to help with the remineralization of the teeth. This milk-derived compound was invented at the University of Melbourne and supporters say it is the key to better dental health.

Recaldent has been studied by scientists in Australia and Japan and has been shown to not only prevent decay, but also to repair teeth damaged by caries.

One relatively new product using the compound is called Tooth Mousse and is made by a Japanese corporation. It is not yet available in the United States. However, a Recaldent chewing gum is available on store shelves here.

Since last June, Recaldent has been used as an ingredient in some lines of chewing gum by Trident, made by Cadbury Adams.

However, the company has done almost no promotion of this fact. And the nation's newspapers have paid only scant attention to this compound.

Scientists also say the sweetening agent xylitol additionally helps with tooth remineralization. Trident White is sweetened with sorbitol, but Trident Xtra Care chewing gum is sweetened with xylitol (BEGIN ITALS) and (END ITALS) also contains Recaldent.

Wine of the Week: 2007 Doga delle Clavule Rosato, Maremma, Toscana ($13) — This light pink wine has an aroma of red cherries and is totally dry, so it would be a nice accompaniment to a wide variety of foods. Imported by Vineyard Brands.

Dan Berger resides in Sonoma County, Calif. Berger publishes a weekly newsletter on wine and can be reached at danberger@VintageExperiences.com. To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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