The holiday season is here again, and feasts, parties, and other celebrations are coming with it. Friends and families have enjoyed red wine together during special occasions for thousands of years in no small part because of its tart taste, rich red color, and the way it compliments a nice beef or lamb dish so well. Unfortunately, this delightful adult beverage can cause stains or discoloration in your teeth if you are not careful about drinking it. Here are a few tips for enjoying red wine during the holidays without endangering the color of your smile.
How Does Red Wine Stain Teeth?
Red wine is high in acid, which gives it its stinging tartness, and pigment, which gives it its color. When red wine makes contact with your teeth, the acids it contains immediately begin to weaken your enamel, which makes it easier for the pigment to bond with it. If this happens frequently enough while the drinker fails to perform adequate oral hygiene, the teeth can begin to take on a purplish color.
How Can I Prevent Red Wine from Staining My Teeth?
Luckily, drinking red wine doesn’t have to cause dental discoloration. A few ways to keep your teeth white in pearly while you celebrate include:
- Practice proper oral hygiene regularly: The pigments in red wine can get stuck in the plaque in your teeth, giving them more time to form bonds with your enamel. If you eliminate the plaque from your teeth by sufficiently brushing and flossing on a daily basis, you can keep this from happening.
- Enjoy some water as you drink: Having a glass of water alongside your wine will help wash it away from your teeth and promote healthy saliva flow. It’s not a bad idea to rinse your mouth out after drinking as well.
- Enjoy your wine with some food: Eating promotes saliva flow, which helps eliminate harmful chemicals from your teeth. Snacks like snappy veggies or hard cheeses can also be firm enough to scrape them away without harming your enamel.
- Try a whitening toothpaste: You can buy many whitening toothpastes at the store that can help remove surface stains from your teeth.
It’s important to indulge a little bit during the holidays. Drinking red wine in moderation while keeping up with an excellent oral hygiene routine should cause your teeth no trouble.
About the Practice
Jacksonville Complete Dentistry delivers the greatest dental care available in Jacksonville, FL. Led by Drs. Jonathan Montoya, Rose Johnson, and Wayne Barker, the staff provides personalized treatments in a warm and hospitable environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on keeping your teeth healthy during the holidays, contact the office online or dial (904) 645-6457.