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4 Things To Avoid When Trying To Maintain A Naturally Bright Smile

Everyone wants a bright white smile without repeatedly booking in for professional teeth whitening. We are always looking for tips and tricks for us to try that keeps your teeth naturally bright. One way to do this is to eat and drink things that naturally keep your teeth white and healthy and avoid the things that will tarnish your sparkling smile. Here, Holly House Dental takes look at a few things to avoid that can discolour your teeth and take away that natural bright smile.

1. Sugar and acid don’t mix well 

Our bodies work very hard to process everything that we eat and drink adequately. However, when we have sugar, the bacteria in our mouths break the simple sugars down and produce acids which erode tooth enamel. Most of us are guilty for an odd sugary drink now and again but, when you drink a lot of sweet and fruity beverages, these can be practically made solely from simple sugars, and this is where the combination of the sugary drink and the acids your mouth produces can erode your tooth enamel causing little pits where cavities then start to form. It can take between half an hour and two hours for your mouth to recover from enamel-harming acid so if you have no break from sugary drinks, your mouth has no chance of recovering, causing more problems. Very sticky and chewy sweets are the biggest problem as they cling on to the teeth, making it very difficult for saliva to wash it away.

2. Red, red wine.

Not only red wine but any dark coloured foods and drinks can discolour your teeth. Some sauces and dressings can contribute to teeth discolouration such ad balsamic vinegar, soya sauce and even tomato-based sauces. All of these can make your teeth vulnerable to staining. 

3. Caffeinated and carbonated drinks

Tea, coffee and carbonated drinks all change the pH balance in your mouth, and this can damage the enamel on the top layer of your teeth. When a drink is high in sugar content and carbonated, this combination can erode your teeth. If you do have fizzy drinks and don’t feel you can replace them, then it is best to drink through a straw to minimise the damage. 

4. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals

You should try and avoid any foods that have starch and sugar mixed in the ingredients. Most snacks such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, pastries and most processed foods can be bad for your teeth as the starch and sugar mixture is most likely going to get stuck in plaque in between your teeth.

All of these things are relatively easy to do, not only will they make your teeth healthier, they will contribute towards your overall health if you can just cut down on them.

Natural whitening aids

If you are looking to naturally keep your teeth white and shining, you can start by avoiding the four things above, but there are lots of things that you can do to help keep your bright smile. An obvious thing to have that helps maintain your bright white smile is water. A few other things that contribute to keeping your smile white and healthy are:

  • Raw fruit and veg
  • Cheese and yoghurt
  • Strawberries
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Pineapple

If you feel like you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth and looking for the options to refresh your smile then there are lots of options available, such as teeth whitening. Ask your dentist how they can help make your teeth whiter and look at the tips above to keep them that way.

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