THE ESSENTIAL
- Red wine isn’t the only substance that can stain teeth.
- Coffee, tea, chocolates, sweets or even smoking can also stain them.
- If a person has sensitive gums, it is best to use a soft toothbrush.
Festive meals are often accompanied by alcoholic beverages. Of all those that exist, red wine can have a not very pleasant side effect: it stains the teeth of some people.
Red wine can stain teeth
“When you drink red wine, there’s a triple threat to the whiteness of your teeth: anthocyanins, which are the pigments in grapes that give red wine its rich color; tannins, which help bind pigment to your teeth; and the acidity of wine, which attacks your enamel, making it more porous and making it easier for the stain to adhereexplains Uchenna Akosa, dentist, in a communiqué. The strength of your enamel [la couche dure à la surface de la dent] and your tendency for plaque buildup [la plaque dentaire est constituée de bactéries qui s’accumulent sur les dents et les gencives] are essential in determining how badly your teeth may stain“.
So yes, red wine stains your teeth, but if you want to drink it, a few tips will help you preserve your smile. First of all, during the meal, do not mix! For example, you should not drink white wine before red wine because the acidity of the first could increase the staining of your teeth when you drink the second. Another tip: to reduce acidity, it is recommended to “rinse your mouth” by drinking water at the table. It also helps you stay well hydrated.
Good oral health through daily hygiene
On the hygiene side, it is recommended to brush your teeth thirty minutes before drinking but not immediately after.
As for the technique, place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and brush gently up and down. The most important thing is to clean all the teeth: brush the outside, the inside and the chewing surfaces. As a reminder, ideally, dentists recommend three brushings a day, after each meal, for about three minutes. For some patients, practitioners recommend, in addition to conventional brushing, the use of a water flosser or dental floss to eliminate all bacteria.
On the toothpaste side, you can ask your practitioner for advice. But, if you are making your choice alone, beware of so-called bleachers, as some contain components that are not good for long-term use.
Good dental hygiene and the application of these few tips should allow you to spend the end of the year celebrations with a beautiful smile, even if you drink red wine…. But in moderation! Even in this festive period, the recommendations of Public Health France do not change: it would be necessary to consume a maximum of two glasses of alcohol per day, not every day and, at most, 10 glasses per week.