If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of your purple-tinged teeth in the mirror — or, worse, in a photograph — after a night of drinking red wine, you know how unpleasant it can be. Strong pigments in red wine discolor porous surfaces like your teeth instantly. These pigments, known as chromogens, give the drink its rich, strong color and leave a stain on your teeth after only a few drinks.
When you look at a tooth or wipe your finger across it, it appears to be exceedingly smooth, like a plate or a glass. The truth is that the enamel, the outer covering of the tooth, includes thousands of minute pores that can become clogged with staining debris from coffee and wine. These are the best products to prevent or get rid of the stain:
- Enamel Health Mouthwash
Dentists advise that you brush your teeth as thoroughly as possible before pouring your first glass of wine. Before going out, use enamel health mouthwash to ensure that there is no plaque or tartar on your teeth, as stains like to stick to plaque film.
- Wine Wipes
If you’ve already started drinking and are seeing a purple tint to your teeth and lips, try one of these handy red wine wipes to lighten up on the go. Swipe them across your teeth to remove unpleasant purple tinges in an instant. Using these as soon as possible after drinking helps to remove the stain before it becomes permanently embedded.
- Disposable Mini Toothbrush in Peppermint
Without water or toothpaste, a simple brush with one of these small toothbrushes can remove a new stain and refresh your breath. They clean the coating that forms on a tooth’s surface. It’s the next best thing to clean your teeth when you don’t have your electric toothbrush or toothpaste with you.
- Zoom Whitening Touchup Pen
This pocket-sized whitener, similar to a Tide pen for your teeth, is another quick option to remove stains. A Zoom whitening pen is an excellent item to keep in your purse for quick use. You can practically paint on teeth by clicking it a few times. This will prevent stains from forming.
We’ve all been there: we start with white wine, and before we know it, we’re downing red wine like it’s no big deal. Avoid this at all costs, mostly because white wine’s acidity erodes your enamel and may function as a primer, causing the tannins in red wine to stick to your teeth more. Know your limit.
