Health & Fitness / 15 May, 2017 / My Baba

Natural Ways To Keep Your Teeth White And Healthy

It’s so important to keep your teeth looking and feeling healthy, not only for the sake of flashing a lovely smile, but also because you don’t want to have to replace them with falsies any time soon. Here are some of our top tips for keeping them in good condition in time for National Smile Month 2017. Some of these things are obvious, while others might surprise you!

Brush, Floss, Rinse

All dentists and hygiene experts can often agree on one thing: brush at least twice a day. Never underestimate the importance of brushing. Tooth discolouration is often caused by plaque and bacteria buildup. This can easily be prevented through regular brushing. Also get to those hard to reach areas with floss.

Use Bicarbonate Of Soda Toothpaste Once A Week

This is a natural tooth-whitening agent and it’s often present in toothpastes. It does a great job at removing stains from the surface of your teeth. Be careful not to use it too frequently as it does risk causing damage to your tooth enamel.

Cut Down On Dark Drinks

We’re not asking you to cut out tea and coffee altogether, or forgo your weekly red wine indulgence. However in order to keep your teeth white, reduce your intake of dark drinks because they may be the culprit behind the yellow tinge to your pearly whites. Basically, any liquid that will have you panicking that it’ll never come out of the carpet, will stain your teeth. After consuming dark food or drink, rinse your teeth to reduce the risk of staining.

Reduce Your Red (And White) Wine Intake

Red wine is notorious for staining teeth, just like when you’ve had a few glasses and it leaves little marks on lips. Watch out for white wine too! Unfortunately, experts have found that white wine may be to blame for yellow-stained teeth. What’s more, there is evidence to suggest that if you follow a glass of white wine with other food and drink, the colours of these will be more likely to stain teeth. It’s always good to keep your alcohol intake low for the sake of your overall health and your waistline anyway!

Less Of The Lemon Juice

As much as you may love to start the day with hot water and fresh lemon, the acidity isn’t doing your teeth any good. You’re coating your teeth in acid, which is in turn eating away at the tooth enamel. It also causes your teeth to lose calcium (the thing that keeps them healthy and strong). If the enamel becomes too eroded, your teeth will become overly sensitive and you’ll be more susceptible to cavities. Watch out for grapefruit and orange juice too, as these are also very acidic.

Love Your Red Lipsticks

This is more a hack than a way to keep your teeth looking white. Wearing a brighter shade of lipstick will make your teeth appear whiter. However, if you opt for a yellow or lighter-based shade, this can make your teeth appear more yellow. Look out for lipsticks with a blue hue to counteract the yellow of your teeth.

One More Thing: Stop Smoking

We probably don’t need to mention this one. We’re sure you got the memo about the harmful and fatal effects of cigarettes. Not only are they bad for your health, they are also a leading cause of tooth discolouration.

The bottom-line is that teeth and gum health all comes down to eating a healthy diet, making sure you brush at least twice a day, not consuming too much sugar, and regularly visiting the dentist.