WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2009 (Health.com) – If you think you’re doing your teeth a favor by sipping white wine instead of red, you may need to rethink your tooth-whitening strategy. A new study shows that white wine has an acid content that tends to increase the risk of dark dental stains if you also drink tea or similar beverages.
New York University researchers compared the staining effects of red and white wine by submerging cow teeth in wine for one hour—the same effect as sipping a couple of glasses of wine over the course of a leisurely dinner. Why cow teeth? Their surface is similar to human teeth, says Mark Wolff, DDS, PhD, a professor and chairman of the department of cariology and comprehensive care at NYU’s College of Dentistry. The researchers then soaked the teeth in black tea, in an effort to mimic the same exposure you’d get from drinking several cups of tea.
Compared to water, the acidity of the white wine left teeth more susceptible to the tea stains. While white wine was still better than red wine in terms of subsequent tooth staining, if you drink any shade of vino you seem to be more vulnerable to staining by so-called chromogens—substances in tea and other food that discolor teeth.
“I used to give out this voodoo advice that patients should drink white wine, not red,” says Wolff, who was scheduled to present the study Wednesday at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Miami. “But I was wrong.”
Next page: Why white wine can stain teeth
Comments (5)
It seems that everybody is picking on wine these days. And they actually get paid to do this kind of research? Was it too difficult to find a human skull? Next up on the research podium, soaking teeth in cranberry juice.Or..?
It seems that everybody is picking on wine these days. And they actually get paid to do this kind of research? Was it too difficult to find a human skull? Next up on the research podium, soaking teeth in cranberry juice.Or..?
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
The researchers then soaked the teeth in black tea, in an effort to mimic the same exposure you’d get from drinking several cups of tea.
http://www.teethwhiteninginstructions.com
So, better stay away from these kind of beverages like tea, coffee or WHITE WINE. Why to take risk??!!
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