Why Red Wine Stains Teeth
So, does red wine stain your teeth? The short answer is yes—but you shouldn’t worry if you’re maintaining excellent oral health care habits and consuming red wine in moderation. When looking into why red wine stains, it’s worth looking at what kind of stain it causes. According to the American Dental Association, red wine stains are considered extrinsic stains, which means the stain results from colored compounds contacting your enamel (intrinsic stains, conversely, are stains that occur inside the tooth). In other words, like tea or coffee, red wine stains because of the intense colored pigments interacting with the outside of your teeth.
To break down the science, when you drink red wine, your teeth are encountering three threats, according to an interview with the head dentist of Rutgers Health University Dental Associates. First, there are anthocyanins, which are the pigments in grapes that give red wine its purplish color. Then there are tannins (which come from the skins, seeds, and stems) that can bind the colored pigment to your teeth. The third threat is the acidity found in wine, making your enamel more porous, thus causing the wine stain to stick. Therefore, it’s essential to maintain healthy enamel care and prevent plaque buildup so that the wine pigment has a more challenging time sticking to your teeth.
Still, there’s no need to panic over switching to white wine for your holiday gathering. It’s still a great choice and also has known health benefits. According to the American Heart Association, red wine is linked to benefits like lessening heart disease symptoms. That being said, it’s always best to consume alcohol in moderation.