We've all been told to avoid red wine, dark berries, and black coffee in our quests for pearly whites, but what about foods that actually brighten your smile? Try these natural solutions for a brilliant beam. | By Julia Marino
Strawberries
They may be bright red, but malic acid, a chief component of this summery fruit, acts as a natural astringent to remove surface tooth discoloration, says Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. Fresh, juicy strawberries taste great in any meal—salads, desserts, cereal—and are widely available at farmers markets this time of year, so getting your daily dose is both simple and delicious.
Apples
The loud crunch you hear when you bite into this hard fruit may be annoying, but it's also good for your choppers. Apples' crispiness strengthens gums, and their high water content increases saliva production, dispersing and neutralizing colonies of bacteria that lead to bad breath and plaque, says Smigel.
Water
Drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated and your smile bright, advises Smigel, who recommends sipping and swishing between glasses of wine and when eating dark, pigmented foods to prevent staining. However, while water reduces the acidity in your mouth and the resulting damage to your enamel, Dr. Smigel warns against imbibing too much sparkling water, which has greater potential to erode enamel and harm teeth.
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article by: Julia Marino
Dentists Waxhaw NC
Carolinas Dental Center
Tel:704-612-0774
2514 Cuthbertson Road,
Waxhaw, NC 28173 USA
Gum disease is not that common
Water Rules
Bleeding or sore gums can be a sign of gingivitis, an early and reversible stage of gum disease, or simply the result of brushing too hard or starting a new flossing routine. If your gums bleed regularly, or enough to worry you, make an appointment with your dentist or physician, it could be a sign that something else is wrong.
Wine tasters may be at high risk for enamel stain and erosion.
What Causes Tooth Enamel Damage?
Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but this is one habit that makes dentists cringe. Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.
Just because cough drops are sold in the medicine aisle doesn't mean they’re healthy. Most are loaded with sugar. So after soothing your throat with a lozenge, be sure to brush well. Whether the sugar comes from a cough drop or a hard candy, it reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth. Then bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hello, cavities.
Tongue piercings
may be trendy, but biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip
piercings pose a similar risk. And when metal rubs against the gums, it can
cause gum damage that may lead to tooth loss. The mouth is also a haven for
bacteria, so piercings raise the risk of infections and sores. Bottom line,
discuss the health risks with your dentist first.
It’s natural and sugar free, so you
might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or
even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue
inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may
trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get
the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.
You already know that in
order to avoid cavities and more serious dental problems, you have to take good
care of your teeth. But consistent brushing and flossing habits do more than
just protect your oral health — they also help keep a host of other serious
conditions at bay. Heart disease and stroke, for instance, have both been
linked to poor dental hygiene.
We've all been told to avoid red wine, dark berries, and black coffee in our quests for pearly whites, but what about foods that actually brighten your smile? Try these natural solutions for a brilliant beam. | By Julia Marino