As per the top dentist in Makati, one of the common worries of patients during Valentine’s is having wine-stained teeth. Sipping that glass is great but the discoloration it brings afterward is somehow embarrassing for many. Fortunately, dental professionals have a lot of tips for their patients. Don’t worry, to stop drinking isn’t one of them! Keep on reading to ensure a white smile on your Valentine’s date!
- Practice enamel care.
Keeping your enamel clean, strong and healthy is the first step. The enamel is the protective layer of the teeth and the hardest tissue of your body. It is sturdy but still, ingredients of wine can break it down and result in small cracks and holes. These small cracks allow pigments and acids such as chromogens and tannins to soak in your pearly whites thus, wine-stained teeth. Aside from inspiring some embarrassment during your date, it can also lead to dull or discolored teeth in the long term when neglected. To prevent this, regularly visit your dentist in Makati. Dental services such as deep cleaning and teeth whitening can polish your teeth and protect it from further discoloration.
- Brush and floss 30 minutes before drinking.
Plaque and food residue buildup absorbs acids and encourage stains to cling on your teeth longer. A good preventive step is thorough brushing and flossing before sipping that glass of wine. Moreover, cleaning your oral cavity 30 minutes before drinking also reduces the risk of gum diseases and tooth decay. That’s another reason to carry a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss and do an extra scrub before going on a date!
- Drink sparkling water immediately.
If you don’t have enough time to brush or floss, or you’ve forgotten your kit, don’t panic. You can drink your wine without staining your teeth by chasing it with a glass of sparkling water. The effervescence (small bubbles due to carbonation) or fizz helps loosen the red wine’s effect in your mouth. Plus, it also helps fight cavities, washes away food particles, and keeps the mouth from becoming dry (which can actually put you at a higher risk of bacteria buildup). It’s a win-win for you and your pearly whites!
- Eat the right foods as you drink.
Cheese, crackers and hors d’oeuvre taste good together with wine. But did you know that eating these snacks as you drink also promotes calcium build-up on your teeth and closes the micropores on the surface of your enamel? This makes it harder for wine pigments and acids to stain your teeth. Selecting dishes with vegetables (like broccoli, celery and cabbage) when on a date would be a good choice too. These fibrous foods stimulate saliva flow and function as a barrier against acids. Plus, they naturally scrub away wine stains.
- Invest in teeth wipes.
To be extra prepared, slip teeth wipes in your bag before leaving the house. Teeth wipes are a handy and immediate solution to wine stains. All you have to do is go to the restroom and wipe your teeth then voila! Your teeth will feel clean, smooth and fresh with no traces of wine stains. Dentists in Makati highly recommend wipes that are made out of bamboo fiber as these are sturdy but gentle to use. Its anti-bacterial properties help prevent and remove further bacteria and stain buildups, too!
Let there be no hindrance to the kilig on your date! When you’ve got these tips from the best dentist in Makati, there’s no reason to be afraid of drinking a couple glasses of wine and flashing your best smile!