A brighter, whiter smile will give you more confidence to laugh and make you look healthier. The celebrities are all sporting sparkling teeth, but for us mere mortals who can't afford the cost of veneers, there are ways to avoid discoloration. Apart from avoiding smoking, red wine and coffee, as well as making regular trips to the dentist, there are foods we can eat to perk up those pearly whites.
Crunchy Vegetables
Apples, cauliflower, celery, carrots and radishes all have a cleansing action as you eat them. As you crunch, they literally clean your teeth like little toothbrushes with the extra saliva they produce. Be sure to include plenty in your daily diet. Vegetables are also rich in vitamin C, which helps prevent gum disease.
Cheese
Eating cheese neutralizes the acid in your mouth, which causes discoloration of the enamel. So a little treat now and again will actually help your smile. Yogurt and milk are also good teeth whiteners from the dairy family, as the lactic acid contained in them decreases gum disease and protects teeth. Plus, they contain plenty of calcium, which is great for your teeth and bones.
Chewing Gum
A stick of sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production to neutralize the acid in your mouth. It also cleans your teeth by sticking to the debris and removing it. Look for gum containing sorbitol to help inhibit decay-causing bacteria.
Strawberries
After initially reddening your teeth, strawberries provide a finishing polish. With all the saliva generated when you eat them, your teeth will be whiter and brighter.
If you're looking for a natural mix for even more teeth whitening, mash strawberries with some baking soda and rub on your teeth. Leave for five minutes and brush off. Do this a few times a week to see the difference. The baking soda will also help kill plaque-causing bacteria, and it will reduce the acids that harm tooth enamel.
Orange Peel
The white side, not the orange side of an orange peel, is a great natural remedy for whiter teeth. If that doesn't work for you, try combining ground bay leaves with organic dried orange peel into a paste and brush your teeth with it. The paste will leave your mouth feeling fresh and you should see the difference in a few weeks.
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