Effects of Drinking Wine on Your Teeth

Red wine may be beneficial to health but not so much so for your teeth. Both red and white wine can affect the enamel of teeth over time, with the potential for long term problems and weakening of teeth.

Wine is acidic, with white wine being more so than its red counterpart. This acid can eat away at the enamel covering the teeth. At first, this may mean little bits of enamel that make your teeth more porous. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and staining of teeth from the wine and other foods and beverages.

Continued use of wine can lead to further damage to enamel. This can expose the inner part of the tooth making it more susceptible to decay and erosion, resulting in the need for dental fillings or more extensive measures such as root canals or crowns.

If you wish to drink wine, it is important to wait before brushing your teeth. Brushing teeth while acid is present softens the enamel which can be further eroded with brushing. Try rinsing your mouth with water to reduce further damage. Wait about 30 minutes before brushing to allow saliva to neutralize any remaining acids in the mouth.

If you like to drink wine, you can further neutralize damaging acids by nibbling on cheese. Be sure to visit our cosmetic dentist in North Hollywood for regular checkups to prevent long term damage to your teeth.

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