Red Wine/White Teeth - Impossible?

If you drink a lot of red wine, is it possible to have white teeth? In many wine circles, having purple-stained teeth is a mark of honor. I’m not sure why. I think it’s the same as having service stripes. The more you taste, the darker your teeth should apparently be.

I, on the other hand, am all about flashing the pearly whites, no matter how much red wine I consume. And since I like to have a glass of wine nearly every day (and most of it is red), that has to be a factor.

We already know how wine is being purported as being great for health. This realization, in my opinion, is the biggest Duh in history. Wine has been an integral part of civilization for millennia, and its health benefits were described by Hippocrates. Roman soldiers carried olive oil and wine in wineskins as they marched out to conquer the world. And now modern science suddenly is aware of wine. Thanks for keeping up with the news, guys. I feel so very informed.

I thought it’d be a good idea to do a little research on the research that had been done about wine drinkers and their teeth. The results? All over the map. Everything from “wine will dissolve your teeth into piles of grape-colored dust unless you drink it out of a straw” to “the polyphenols in wine will protect you from gum disease, heart disease, and won’t affect your teeth.” So I decided that since the “experts” were disagreeing, I’d just share my own experiences and you can just take it from there.

First, let me tell you about Thelma. Who’s Thelma? My mother. I’m blessed (literally) to still have her in my life, but she can be, well, *trying* at times. When I was 12, Mom decided that I needed braces. I don’t know why she thought so. By that time I had gotten used to my nickname, “Bugs.” As in Bugs Bunny. So I got the braces on and for the next few years, endured the torments of hell. No, they didn’t cause any real physical pain, but at that time (early-mid 60s) it was a definite social problem because “nobody” wore braces. The one thing I remember from those days is my mother telling me that if I lost any of my teeth after the way she sweated and slaved to earn money to pay for those expensive braces, then she’d kill me. Well, she’s still around and I believe her.

Fast forward to today. I’m 56, still have all of my teeth, and they don’t look like the teeth of someone who drinks red wine regularly. I really care for them - Thelma may be 86 (87 June 3), but she can still pack a whallup. And, besides, I’m so not into the whole Poligrip thing. So what do I do to maintain them? It’s simple, really. I don’t brush my teeth.

At least, I don’t brush them immediately before or after drinking wine. I drink lots of water before going to bed if I’ve had red wine that evening. In fact, when drinking wine, I drink a lot of water anyway. Not only does that help to stave off the buzz, but it keeps your mouth clean and the acid from the wine less likely to cause damage to the enamel. Since I drink wine only in the evening (with a few exceptions), I don’t brush my teeth before going to bed; I only rinse with water. However, if I haven’t had wine that day, I do brush before hitting the sack. The saliva and the nighttime plaque are your teeth’s best friends in protecting them from the acid and stain from red wine.

I use either Tooth Soap or Arm and Hammer toothpaste (depending upon budget and availability). A couple of times a week I brush thoroughly - using a very soft toothbrush - with plain baking soda and rinse with regular hydrogen peroxide. Ta da. That’s it. Of course, that goes along with the usual care, such as flossing and regular brushing. My dentist both loves me (for having healthy teeth and gums) and hates me (can’t make a living from my teeth).

As I write this I’m drinking a glass of red wine. And, yes, the teeth pictured are mine, taken moments before with my webcam and totally unretouched. Of course, I took the picture before sipping.

So is it possible to have white, healthy teeth and still enjoy red wine? With a little care (and the right genetics), I’d say yes. Everyone is a little different, but because Thelma is still around (see big grin here), you can be sure that I’m doing my best to maintain my smile!

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