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November 20, 2009| dentalproductsreport.com Think before you drink  Tooth soaked in white wine (above) still shows signs of staining, while the tooth soaked in red wine (below) still shows more significant stains. Photo: Dr. Mark S. Wolff, NYU College of Dentistry. With the holiday season getting into high gear, many patients will partake in food and drinks at social gatherings that may be damaging to their waistlines. But some may be unaware of the hidden dangers to their teeth from unsuspecting sources. Results of a study conducted by the New York University College of Dentistry show that drinking white wine along with foods that have the potential to stain teeth increases the staining of teeth similar to red wine, which has a history as a tooth stainer. Led by Dr. Mark Wolff, Professor of the Dept. of Cardiology and Comprehensive Care at NYU College of Dentistry, the researchers found that teeth soaked for one hour in white wine before being immersed in black tea had significantly darker stains than teeth immersed for one hour in water before exposure to the tea. The study used cow teeth, whose surface closely resembles that of human teeth, and used a spectrophotometer to measure color intensities in evaluating the staining levels. In addition, the researchers referred to a list of the most-popular wines culled from Wine Spectator magazine, including a Kendall Jackson chardonnay, to select a range of wines. “The reason why white wine increased the stain is due to the fact that it is so acidic that it etches the outer surface of the tooth, as does red wine and colas” said Dr. Wolff. “When we looked at the teeth under the microscope [after soaking them in white wine for one hour], we actually see a roughened surface. Not grooved or with holes, but that the smooth outer surface of the tooth is damaged by the acids.” Dr. Wolff said that the study arose from the experiences of a patient of his who had undergone a tooth-bleaching process and followed his directions to avoid the common causes of tooth staining, like berries and red wine, but who was upset at her six-month follow-up with tooth staining. When she revealed that she was a drinker of white wine, it spurred Dr. Wolff to begin the investigative trail that resulted in the study. Results were presented in April at the annual meeting of the International Association for Dental Research. According to Dr. Wolff, white wine is still less of a problem than red wine when it comes to staining teeth. When the researchers repeated the experiment with red wine, the resulting stains were significantly darker than those in the white wine group. “Red wine, unlike white, contains a highly-pigmented substance known as chromogen,” explained Dr. Wolff. He added that connoisseurs concerned about staining need not cut back on their consumption. “The best way to prevent staining caused by wine, as well as other beverages, is to use a toothpaste containing a whitening agent,” advised Dr. Wolff, adding that oenophiles should refrain from brushing for at least 20 minutes after consuming the grape to allow the natural remineralization of teeth by saliva. “If you were to go in and hit it with a toothbrush right away, it will tend to wear away the tooth more aggressively.”
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