Are You A Red Wine Drinker? Try These Easy Tips to Keep Your Teeth White

Red wine is a popular drink to have with dinner, at parties, and on special occasions. Unfortunately, red wine can also be damaging to your teeth. Teeth can turn a soft purple color after you drink red wine. Over time, this type of drink can cause your teeth to become more brown, blue, dingy gray, or purple.

This discoloration happens because red wine contains acids, tannin, and natural dyes, all of which can leave the teeth etched and stained. Fortunately, you can do several things to care for your teeth and prevent stains from occurring. 

Brush Teeth Before Drinking

The tannins in the wine cling onto any plaque on your teeth. Brushing before, of course, gets rid of the bad stuff, and decreases the chances of you getting that unsightly wine mouth. While it may seem like common sense to brush after as well, don't do it. The acidity in the wine will leave your teeth extra sensitive, so brushing at that point can damage the enamel. 

Use a Straw

Drinking red wine from a straw helps the wine bypass the teeth and go straight for the tongue. Red wine isn’t a beverage that is commonly consumed with a straw, so if you feel a little silly using one, consider switching to red-wine based sangria. This beverage is commonly consumed through a straw.  

Stick To High Fiber Foods While Drinking

If there's anytime to get your veggie fix in, it's on wine night. High fiber foods like cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes require a lot of chewing, which produces saliva. The food itself and the extra saliva naturally scrub the stains away.

Eat Cheese

You already knew that cheese and red wine tasted great together, but you may not know that cheese can protect your teeth from stains. Cheese covers the teeth with a waxy coating that fills the pores and prevents stains. Hard cheese also helps protect the teeth by wiping the enamel clean.  

Chew Sugarless Gum
If you don’t have a toothbrush on hand when you’re having red wine, sugarless gum is almost as effective. Chew sugarless gum to keep your teeth clean and free of food before drinking red wine. 

Reapply Your Lip Gloss

Petroleum-based lipglosses will act as a barrier to the tannins, so touch up your lips after each glass. In case you're wondering, lipstick doesn't have the same superpower. 

Drink Water With Your Wine
Sparkling water can help wash wine down and prevent your teeth from becoming stained. To do this effectively, take a drink of wine and then a drink of sparkling water. Swish the water around in your mouth before swallowing.

 

Use Teeth Wipes
Teeth wipes are cloths that can help wipe away food and red wine stains while you’re consuming red wine. Teeth wipes come in a convenient package that can be transported in a bag or stuck in the glove compartment. Keep them on hand for moments when you’re thinking about having a glass of red wine.  

Be Cautious With Tooth Whitening Products
There are many tooth-whitening  products on the market. Some of these products are minimally effective, while others damage teeth by stripping away the enamel, leaving teeth more sensitive and vulnerable to stains. If you’re thinking about using a tooth-whitening product on your teeth, run it past your dentist first to ensure that it’s safe for your teeth. Alternatively why not book Teeth whitening  in our Balwyn clinic today. We also offer teeth whitening near Kew, Surrey Hills, Hawthorn & Camberwell.

And Please Do Not Do The Following:
People can do a variety of things to help keep their teeth white while drinking red wine. Some of these methods work, others don’t. 

Don’t Switch To White
Some people believe that switching to white wine can help protect their teeth from stains and discolorations. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. While white wine won’t stain your teeth purple like red wine, its high acidity can still contribute to tooth staining. White wine can increase the number of holes and pores in your teeth by eating away at the enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to stains.

Don’t Suck on Limes, Lemons, or Use Baking Soda
Many people believe that they can prevent red wine from staining their teeth by sucking on a lime or by brushing their teeth with lemon juice and baking soda. Limes and lemons both have a high acid content that can damage teeth in the same way that white wine can damage teeth. In addition, baking soda is abrasive and can scratch away tooth enamel, leaving teeth more vulnerable. 

See the Dentist Regularly
Seeing the dentist regularly can help protect your teeth from stains. Your dentist can clean your teeth and whiten the enamel safely to prevent your teeth from staining. If you regularly drink red wine, see your dentist at least twice per year to remove stains. 

If you have questions about how to protect your teeth from red wine stains, contact your Tower Dental dentist in Balwyn today.