4 Tips For Preventing Wine Stains

Wine is a popular drink for many people. While it is delicious and helpful after a stressful day, wine can affect your smile in negative ways. Even though brushing helps, wine can still stain your teeth, discoloring your smile in a somewhat permanent manner. Thankfully, help is available if you want to improve your smile while enjoying wine. Here are a few essential tips for protecting your smile if you are a wine drinker.

Brush Fully

You may think brushing your teeth after consuming wine is sufficient for reducing the risk of stains, but that is not necessarily true. Avoid brushing your teeth right after consuming wine, since this could help the acids from the wine spread across the teeth and gums more thoroughly.

Instead, consider brushing your teeth right before you have the wine. This ensures the teeth and gums are free of food, bacteria, and plaque, which the wine may stick to.

You can brush your teeth and gums a few hours after drinking the wine, as well, but make sure you are consuming water while consuming your alcoholic beverage.

Drink Water

Drinking water while drinking your water is not important because you are thirsty. In reality, taking sips of water in between drinking the water will help rinse away the acids and dyes in the wine, reducing your risk of enamel erosion and tooth stains.

Drinking sparkling or carbonated water while enjoying wine is ideal. The bubbly nature of this water will help rinse away the wine for the teeth and gums in a more effective and efficient manner. In addition, the carbonated water can be used to help clean away wine stains from your clothes if you end up spilling it.

Eat Fiber

Another great way to protect your teeth from the dangers of wine is to consume fiber-rich foods while enjoying your alcoholic beverage.

Raw spinach, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and even potatoes are loaded with fiber. Chewing these foods will help brush away the acids and dyes from the teeth and gums, reducing any risk of dental damage and tooth stains.

Schedule Checkups

Finally, make sure to schedule dental checkups at least once a year or every 6 months. During these checkups, your dentist will be able to determine if your teeth are damaged by continuous wine consumption, offering solutions to prevent further damage. 

The checkups also include professional cleanings, which allows your dentist to remove acids, foods, bacteria, and another stain-causing residue. This can also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If your teeth are already stained, talk to your dentist about at-home bleaching agents or in-office whitening treatments to not only whiten, but also brighten your smile.

Contact a clinic, like Alliance Family Dental, for more help.

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