A shiny smile is only 10 steps away! Photo/Jdurham
Here are some handy tips from the folks at Prevention to get a whiter, brighter smile and a healthier mouth -- from what not to eat to when not to brush:
1. Avoid eating carbs alone (like, as a snack). Because these foods are denser and stickier, the residue stays longer in your mouth and breeds icky bacteria. Consuming carbs with meals causes more saliva production and a more likely chance they'll get washed away. Also, people tend to brush after meals.
2. Do not drink acidic sodas and then brush your teeth. The combo of the acid and the abrasive action of brushing can erode tooth enamel. Instead, drink some water before you brush to wash away the acidic residue.
3. Eat at least 60 mg. of vitamin C a day to protect yourself from mouth-ruining gum disease. The good news is, it's not that hard to boost your C intake: 8 ounces of orange juice or one orange contains more than 80 mg.
4. Mimic the Brits and have a cup of tea. Black and green teas have a magical combo of smile-boosting qualities: They contain antioxidant compounds that prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth, which can help reduce bad breath (because of inhibited bacteria growth); and many also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it's steeped in), which protects tooth enamel from decay.
5. Use a straw to sip acidic drinks, which limits their contact with your teeth and helps preserve the enamel.
6. Get at least 1,000 mg of calcium per day (1,200 mg if you're older than 50), preferably from your diet. Foods such as cheese, milk, and yogurt strengthen the jaw's alveolar bone, which helps hold your teeth in place.
7. If you're a swimmer, watch out for enamel-eroding pool chlorine. Brush your teeth and use a fluoride rinse immediately after spending more than an hour in the pool.
8. Snack on crunchy, watery foods -- such apples, celery, and carrots -- which act like little toothbrushes as you chew them (and can help scrub away stubborn stains over time). But be sure to brush or drink a glass of water afterward to rinse away the bacteria-friendly sugars and carbs in these foods (especially the apples).
9. Play kissy-face with your honey! The act of kissing increases saliva production. If you're single or don't have smooching access to your partner, chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol will also do the trick.
10. Choose whole grains such as brown rice and whole-grain breads, which have been proven to keep teeth healthier longer. Eating more whole grains helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which has been shown to reduce periodontal disease in diabetics.
Comments