WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

How May Red Wine Benefit Your Teeth?

You don’t need to fear a wine-stained smile, if you follow a few simple rules.

This #wellnesswednesday we’re chatting about the health benefits red wine can have on your teeth. What?

According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, red-wine antioxidants prevent plaque-causing bacteria from sticking to gum tissue.

Resveratrol’s ability to reduce the amount of gingivitis-related bacteria up to 60 percent may play a key role, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of Periodontology.

White wine’s typically-higher-than-red’s acidity can break down the enamel that leave your teeth more vulnerable, because tooth enamel is most susceptible to acid, the highest concentration being found in lemon, particularly lemon-oil on the peel.

Once you have erosion happening on the tooth, the inside of the tooth pulp is exposed, leaving it more susceptible than the hard enamel, therefore making you more susceptible to cavities.

If you feel you’re experiencing the harmful effects of erosion and need to schedule a cleaning or Zoom! Professional-Grade Teeth Whitening, click here to request an appointment.

As long as your teeth are in good health, here are a few ways to keep your pearly whites stain-free while imbibing:

After drinking red wine, your mouth is an acidic environment, so refrain from brushing that around for at least 30 minutes, as brushing acid into your teeth increases the risk of erosion.

Instead, swish with some water when you’re through enjoying your red wine. That will help restore the pH levels in your mouth and fend off the acid.

As always, before bed (your body goes into regeneration mode while you sleep) brush and floss your teeth (we recommend the WaterPik as well) for optimum stain-fighting and healthy-bacterial results.

Sources:
It’s not just chromogens and tannins—or even just red wine, for that matter—that’s giving you a tinted grin; white wine shares an equal (if not larger) amount of the blame. Study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2004 study showing wine might help prevent periodontal disease and teeth loss. 2006 study published in the Journal of Periodontology. Wine Spectator.