How Does Wine Damage Your Smile? - Corbet Locke D.D.S. Corbet Locke D.D.S. in Woodway
New Patients: 254.655.3229 | Current Patients: 254.776.4888 | Schedule an Appointment

How Does Wine Damage Your Smile?

added on: April 2, 2012

You may sip wine to celebrate an event or to relax after a long day. Some types of wine are rich in antioxidants to keep your heart healthy, but that one glass—or bottle—of wine may damage your smile. Fortunately, Dr. Locke can repair your smile with cosmetic dental restorations in Waco.

Enamel Erosion

The sharp, tangy taste that you get from wine is caused by acid. This acidity can erode your enamel and cause rough pits and grooves on the surface of your teeth. Foods and colors will stick in these ridges and can be difficult to remove, causing stains. Erosion can also weaken your teeth, making your smile more vulnerable to chips, fractures, or sensitivity. After drinking an acidic beverage, be careful not to brush your teeth right away. Brushing your teeth while your enamel is weak can contribute to further erosion and damage. To help minimize the acid attack, pair your glass of wine with some cheese. Cheese oils help create a shield across your teeth to block stains. In addition, cheese helps neutralize the pH level in your mouth.

Tooth Discoloration

Red wine contains an intense color pigment called chromogen. Your teeth are porous and the bright molecule is absorbed into the enamel, turning your teeth a bluish-brown color. Cherries, blueberries, and cola also contain these pigments, but the color doesn’t always stick. Red wine stains are darker because the acid content roughens the enamel and the color sticks in grooves. White wine has a similar effect, as well. Although white wine doesn’t have an intense color, it still causes acid erosion. White wine creates the coarse spots in your teeth, and then whatever you eat after the wine will stick to your teeth. Fortunately, professional whitening, porcelain veneers, and cosmetic bonding can hide your discolorations and imperfections to whiten your smile.

If your teeth are stained or eroded, visit Dr. Locke to restore your strong, bright smile. Call our Waco dentist office at (254) 776-4888 to schedule an appointment. We offer cosmetic restorations and general dentistry for patients in Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding Central Texas communities.