A surprising number of foods in your fridge can counteract dental dinginess and actually whiten your teeth.
One sign of aging is the change in the color of our teeth. The subtle fade from white to not-quite-white clearly bothers millions of us: we spend more than $1 billion per year on tooth whitening strips, and millions more to have dentists do the job for us. After a survey conducted late last year, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) projected no lessening of the demand.
Certain habits can also dim your dazzling smiles. At the top of the threat list is smoking. Beyond that, what we eat and drink can make a big difference. Coffee, tea, grape juice, and wine (white as well as red--the tannins in white wine etch tooth surfaces) have cumulative staining effects. So do most sodas, which contain phosphoric acid that erodes tooth enamel allowing underlying yellowish dentin to show through.
The following are eight common foods that can help white your teeth. One word of caution: don’t be impatient with these home remedies--results may take time to become visible.
10 Ways to Improve Your Smile
Celery, apples, and carrots-
These and other crunchy vegetables and fruits promote saliva production, our in-built dental cleanser. The crunchiness of fruits and veggies also helps by actually scrubbing teeth while you chew.
Broccoli-
Not only is this versatile veggie rich in antioxidants that protect against cancer and heart disease, it also guards your teeth by forming an acid resistant film on them that protects enamel. A Brazilian laboratory study found that a broccoli “bath” cuts in half erosion of enamel due to the acid in sodas.
Oranges and pineapples-
These tart fruits boost saliva production. What’s more, rubbing the white side of an orange peel on your teeth can remove tartar accumulation and give you a slightly brighter smile.
Lemon juice-
We know that lemon juice is a natural lightener (think what it does when you put some on hair and go out in the sun). You can try mixing lemon juice with baking soda or salt to make a paste for brushing or for whitening. Be sure to clean your mouth thoroughly afterward because the acid from the lemon juice can damage enamel.
Strawberries-
Unlike other brightly colored berries, strawberries don’t stain your teeth, they actually scrub them. You can heighten this effect by mixing mashed strawberries with baking powder to make a paste. Put it on your teeth, wait five minutes. Then rinse thoroughly.
Apple cider vinegar-
A great stain remover, this stuff is not exactly a taste treat when swished full strength in your mouth for its whitening effects. If that doesn’t appeal, try this alternative: mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda to form a paste to rub on your teeth.
Shiitake mushrooms-
The secret ingredient here is a sugar called lentinan, which works to prevent bacteria in the mouth from forming dental plaque that leads to decay and erodes tooth enamel.
Sesame seeds-
According to the AACD, these tiny seeds act as scrubbers that can reduce plaque. They also provide calcium, which is needed for good dental health. Nuts such as almonds have the same scrubbing effect.
For stain prevention, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after eating or drinking stain-producing foods and beverages. You can learn how to incorporate tooth-whitening foods into your diet by downloading this AACD booklet of recipes.
Article courtesy of http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/foods-whiten-teeth
One sign of aging is the change in the color of our teeth. The subtle fade from white to not-quite-white clearly bothers millions of us: we spend more than $1 billion per year on tooth whitening strips, and millions more to have dentists do the job for us. After a survey conducted late last year, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) projected no lessening of the demand.
Certain habits can also dim your dazzling smiles. At the top of the threat list is smoking. Beyond that, what we eat and drink can make a big difference. Coffee, tea, grape juice, and wine (white as well as red--the tannins in white wine etch tooth surfaces) have cumulative staining effects. So do most sodas, which contain phosphoric acid that erodes tooth enamel allowing underlying yellowish dentin to show through.
The following are eight common foods that can help white your teeth. One word of caution: don’t be impatient with these home remedies--results may take time to become visible.
10 Ways to Improve Your Smile
Celery, apples, and carrots-
These and other crunchy vegetables and fruits promote saliva production, our in-built dental cleanser. The crunchiness of fruits and veggies also helps by actually scrubbing teeth while you chew.
Broccoli-
Not only is this versatile veggie rich in antioxidants that protect against cancer and heart disease, it also guards your teeth by forming an acid resistant film on them that protects enamel. A Brazilian laboratory study found that a broccoli “bath” cuts in half erosion of enamel due to the acid in sodas.
Oranges and pineapples-
These tart fruits boost saliva production. What’s more, rubbing the white side of an orange peel on your teeth can remove tartar accumulation and give you a slightly brighter smile.
Lemon juice-
We know that lemon juice is a natural lightener (think what it does when you put some on hair and go out in the sun). You can try mixing lemon juice with baking soda or salt to make a paste for brushing or for whitening. Be sure to clean your mouth thoroughly afterward because the acid from the lemon juice can damage enamel.
Strawberries-
Unlike other brightly colored berries, strawberries don’t stain your teeth, they actually scrub them. You can heighten this effect by mixing mashed strawberries with baking powder to make a paste. Put it on your teeth, wait five minutes. Then rinse thoroughly.
Apple cider vinegar-
A great stain remover, this stuff is not exactly a taste treat when swished full strength in your mouth for its whitening effects. If that doesn’t appeal, try this alternative: mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda to form a paste to rub on your teeth.
Shiitake mushrooms-
The secret ingredient here is a sugar called lentinan, which works to prevent bacteria in the mouth from forming dental plaque that leads to decay and erodes tooth enamel.
Sesame seeds-
According to the AACD, these tiny seeds act as scrubbers that can reduce plaque. They also provide calcium, which is needed for good dental health. Nuts such as almonds have the same scrubbing effect.
For stain prevention, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after eating or drinking stain-producing foods and beverages. You can learn how to incorporate tooth-whitening foods into your diet by downloading this AACD booklet of recipes.
Article courtesy of http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/foods-whiten-teeth
No comments:
Post a Comment