As much as we love rosé-ing all day, our winter wine lineup usually has us swapping out the crisp, refreshing variety for a glass of bold, layered red wine to get us through the chillier days. Although, in our opinion, while there’s not much not to like about this resveratrol-filled, cardiovascular health-boosting antioxidant beverage, there is one thing we can do without: purple wine stains that eventually settle into longer-term discoloration.
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“Avoiding ‘red wine teeth’ can be difficult,” says San Francisco, CA cosmetic dentist Swati Agarwal, DDS. “A great trick I use is vigorously swishing water before and after drinking red wine to prevent the stains from settling into teeth.” In addition to rinsing out the pigment, the practice also helps to clear films and residue off teeth that can cause the stain to cling. “Brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste for at least two minutes, every night,” is a non-negotiable, adds Dr. Agarwal.
To ensure that your smile is bright all red-wine season long, Dr. Agarwal recommends doing a session of in-office whitening treatment for more noticeable results. “You can grab some take-home gel to keep up and maintain results. It’s especially a good idea to touch up at home the day after drinking red wine to keep your smile fresh and bright.”
