Why Red Wine Really Stains Teeth, and What to Do About It!

Do you ever remember looking into a mirror right after that perfect Pinot Noir and seeing an often temporary darkish tinged area on your front teeth? Well, there actually may be a scientific reason causing the stains, which is mainly due to the chemical composition and nature of the wine! Our cosmetic dental care in North York dentists discusses!

According to a recent Huffington Post article written by Catherine Pearson, although other dark coloured beverages can cause staining, two main factors contribute to the wine’s inherent ability to stain much more prevalently. First, the acidic nature of wine actually slightly etches the teeth, creating micro-porosities which allow the darker pigments to linger within the tooth for much longer. Secondly, the tannins in wine is considered an astringent, which basically helps to further bind the darker pigmented molecules to the tooth.

So what should we do? Fear not! You will still be able to enjoy a glass or two, as long as a few simple steps are followed. And no; we are not suggesting you to be one of “those” people who use straws to drink wine! (But you are always free to, if desired!). Firstly, eating some protein with wine helps to create a barrier between the teeth and the coloured pigments in wine. A great example of such a protein is cheese. Secondly, chewing gum after wine helps to promote saliva production which neutralizes the acidity of wine. And lastly, if there are some stains that just won’t go away, in-office dental whitening procedures can help to re-whiten teeth.

For any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our cosmetic dental care in North York dentists for further information. Cheers!