Wine Causes More Damage than Just Stained Teeth
Many people enjoy a glass of red wine with their meal. It is considered a staple by some people and they would miss it if not served with their meal. It is also well-known to be capable of producing strong stains, and many people have stained teeth because of it. Besides the red wine teeth, red wine is also capable of producing tooth enamel erosion.
Tooth Discoloration
Red wine, along with tea and coffee contains tannins. This substance can stain your teeth. It can do this because the enamel on your teeth consists of ridges and pits – even though it may look smooth to the eye. When you drink or eat, food particles and the dyes in the wine get caught on the ridges and leave your teeth stained.
White wine is actually no better for you when it comes to having stained teeth. Although it is not red, it still contains the tannins that are responsible for the staining power of wine.
Acidic Drinks
Being that red wine contains alcohol, it clearly falls into the category of acidic foods. It has a strong pH level of somewhere between 2.9 and 3.5, and this means that it can damage the enamel on your teeth. Drinking wine often can definitely cause acid erosion, and leave you with wine stained teeth.
The acid literally starts to dissolve the enamel. Over time, it becomes thin. This leads to a changing of the color of your teeth because of the color of the under layer, which is a darker yellow. You may also experience pain because the nerves in your teeth become exposed. This is a problem because enamel does not grow back.
Alcohol and Dehydration
Alcohol is also bad for your teeth because it will dry out your mouth. It is a diuretic, which means it helps you eliminate water from your mouth and body.
Having a dry mouth is bad for teeth because your saliva helps keep the bad bacteria in your mouth under control. Saliva also helps to strengthen your teeth.
Mixing Red Wine with Soda
People who enjoy mixing their red wine with soda are actually causing worse dental damage. Soda has its own acids in them, and a lot of sugar, with Coke having about nine teaspoons per can. The sugar in the soda will cause the bad bacteria in your mouth to grow. When it does, they produce acid, too. The combined acids mean that the erosion process takes place even faster.
Cancer Risk
While the health benefits of drinking red wine are often touted loud and clear, some recent studies have found a connection between alcohol and mouth cancer. A look at mouth cancer patients discovered that 75 to 80 percent of them admitted to drinking alcohol often. Cancer is even more likely to develop when combined with smoking.
How to Remove Stains from Teeth
If your teeth are stained from red wine, there are several ways to remedy the problem and get beautiful white teeth again. One way would be to buy a teeth whitening kit at your local store. They work slowly, taking about two weeks to whiten your teeth. It will, however, only get your teeth between one or two shades brighter.
A faster way is to go to your dentist and ask about teeth whitening options. A dentist can provide you with much whiter teeth faster. Because they supervise the process, they can use stronger chemicals that will get your teeth 1about six shades brighter in just one session. A dentist can also provide you with teeth whitening chemicals to use at home, but they will not be as strong as you can get in the office.
Dental Veneers
Probably the best way to get really white teeth is to get dental veneers. These are porcelain caps that are placed on the front of your teeth. Because they cover your teeth, they are often used to cover up a wide variety of problems. They can be used to hide problems such as chips, wine stained teeth, short teeth, teeth that are slightly misaligned and even gaps between your teeth. After they are applied, they will give you a Hollywood smile.
Being that veneers are made of porcelain, they reflect light like your natural teeth. They can also be tinted to match the color of your existing teeth. Veneers have the added advantage that when they are taken care of properly, they can last between 15 to 20 years.
Dental Caps
If you have individual teeth that are badly stained, a dental cap can give you a white smile again. Dental caps are also made of porcelain and will look natural. This process removes the top part of your tooth and replaces it with a ceramic crown. A crown can last the rest of your life.
If you want to know more about how to remove stains from teeth as a result from drinking red wine, you can get help from our expert dental team at Champion dental, Farmers Branch , and regain that beautiful smile. Contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for more information or to set up a consultation.