Can Wine Harm Your Teeth? The Truth Revealed!

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Red or white wine always has a place in our social and intimate gatherings, as it has its social significance in our celebrations from ages ago. But, even if the cool and crystal liquid looks and tastes good there are some inevitable side effects on our health. If you are also a social person who is often a part of many social gatherings and celebrations you must have felt minor issues of oral health after having wine. Like the stain of wine on teeth or a dull ache after tasting wine, do not worry many of us experience this issue. If you notice the stain or pain get help from an emergency dentist in Brookline to know whether they are linked or it is an underlying condition. There are many different opinions about it to know more about its actual impact on our teeth read this article. 

It Causes Enamel Erosion 

Consumption of wine will lead to other health conditions also but one of the significant ones is it will cause high acidity because of low pH in both the wine, red as well as white. That means they are acidic enough that they weaken the tooth enamel which is a protective layer of teeth that prevents tooth sensitivity. This barrier is very important and it protects the teeth from discoloration and cavities, but the acid in the wine will break down the enamel minerals and if you are consuming it for a long period or on a somewhat regular basis and your teeth are exposed to acid content for a longer period, the teeth enamel is going to get damaged faster. Consumption of white wine will speed up the process of erosion faster due to its high acid content comparatively. Over time you will feel that you are more sensitive to hot and cold food and your teeth will have rough edges with a yellowish appearance. If you absolutely can not avoid wine many times then you can sip water in between to neutralize acid in your mouth. And use toothpaste that contains fluoride as it will strengthen your enamel. 

It Causes Dry Mouth

Consumption of alcohol always leads to dehydration because it is a diuretic, which causes fluid loss. Alcohol is a primary component of wine which is going to have a dehydrating effect on the mouth or the condition of xerostomia. In this condition saliva, who neutralizes the acidic environment of your mouth by washing away food particles, is going to be reduced. It will lead to a highly acidic environment in the mouth and no sufficient neutralizing component. This can lead to dental problems like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath because when the salivary glands are affected and produce less saliva it will create a favorable environment for bacteria to grow. Therefore, make sure to be hydrated when you are at any wine-tasting event or social gathering.

It Causes Wine Stain   

In social gatherings or not our look impacts our self-esteem and confidence at some level. That is why having an issue due to a stain or having a visible stain on your teeth is going to significantly impact your confidence. Consumption of wine does leave a stain on your teeth while white teeth do not leave a significant stain but will act as a primer making your teeth more susceptible to discoloration. However, red wine leaves a stain because the presence of a natural compound called tanning is going to bind with your teeth’ enamel and leave a dark residue behind, after some time it will be noticeable and will need a challenging treatment to remove it. If your mouth has saliva production it will not allow the compound to get stuck and affect as much.

Do Not Ignore The Initial Sign!

If you are a social person who often consumes wines at such social gatherings and business meetings, make sure you are regularly consulting your dentist. It will help you to promptly aid any harm on your teeth that wine might cause.