May 23, 2018
Dear Wine, Why are my teeth purple??
If you love red wine, you know what I’m talking about.. The dirty mouth left behind a glass of red wine. So what actually causes teeth staining?
Extrinsic staining (stains on the surfaces of the teeth) is caused by intensely colored foods and beverages. The three things that affect the staining potential of a food or beverage are:
(1) Chromogens, which are highly pigmented molecules that make up the color of a food or beverage and latch on to dental enamel
(2) Acid level, which causes staining by eating away at tooth enamel, making teeth softer and allowing chromogens to latch on
(3) Tannins, which further boost the chromogens ability to attach to enamel.
Red wine has intense color (chromogens), it’s acidic, which makes the teeth more likely to accept pigment, and has tannins that bind to the teeth and hold the chromogens. White wine can also stain the teeth as even though the color isn’t intense, the acid and tannins make teeth more likely to pick up the color of whatever else you’re eating or drinking at the same time.
Some people’s teeth are more susceptible to staining. Other factors include hydration, type of wine and how much you drink of it. At the end of the day, we want to have our red wine when we want it, without worrying about the purple teeth that may follow. Wine Wipes work to remove the stain from your teeth quickly and safely without ruining the taste of wine.
Look good. Drink well.