Guest Contributor
by Vanessa Roberts
Flashing a bright, white smile is not only aesthetically appealing but is also a sign of good oral, and general, health, and while I’m sure most of us would rather avoid the dreaded root canal, sometimes we unknowingly eat or drink things that are simply horrible for our teeth.
So which foods can damage those pearly whites? Read on to find out 3 foods to avoid to keep your teeth looking, well, awesomely pearly.
1. Certain Fruits
I know, I was shocked to hear it too. I mean, fruit is an important part of our diets and a natural way to get all the vitamins we need. However too much fruit isn’t so good for your teeth.
Citrus fruits and berries–while chock full of vitamins and antioxidants–are the worst offenders thanks to their acidity levels which can ultimately eat away at your enamel. This is important because without strong enamel, your teeth become susceptible to decay and disease. Not exactly the best look for us ladies.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up your favourite fruits. Instead, try making them into a smoothie and drinking them with a glass straw. That way you cut down your chances of them directly affecting your enamel. Other fruits, like apples, are actually good for your teeth, so next time you’re craving berries or citrus, follow it up with some crunchy apple slices. Both of these methods help minimize damage without having to give up our favourite fruits.
2. Vinegar
It is a kitchen staple yet it can be absolutely terrible for your teeth. While vinegar is delicious in so many of homemade salad dressings and sauces, it is usually best to rinse your mouth out after consuming anything with vinegar in it. Like citrus fruits, the high acidity content in vinegar eats away at the enamel of your teeth which can cause a whole whack of problems. Problems you would probably rather avoid by simply rinsing out your mouth after eating.
This can get tricky, especially if you are out on the town, or even worse, on a hot date, but if you want to protect that sweet smile of yours, you might want to consider excusing yourself and dashing off to the ladies room.
3. Red Wine
I have to admit, I was gutted when I heard about this one. I mean, come on! Red wine? Can’t we ladies catch a break? But alas, it is true. Red wine causes a gradual dulling of your teeth.
Red wine enthusiasts know that after a night of red wine your teeth can look, well, grey and gross, regular red wine consumption can also have this permanent affect on your teeth.
Red wine in moderation can be great for your overall health, as long as you rinse your mouth out after each glass, you should be able to avoid the dreaded–and permanent–red wine smile. Something all of us red wine drinkers can strive for!
So if you want to keep your smile as picture perfect as possible, avoid these 3 foods when necessary, and if you just can’t stay away, at least wash your mouth out or bring a travel toothbrush out with you when you hit the town. It’s not exactly ideal but it’s better than suffering from annoying enamel issues down the road.
Vanessa is a lifestyle blogging babe whose work can be found on websites all over cyberland, including this review on Naturaful, as well various other popular lifestyle brands. The best part about her job? She gets to help her readers live their best lives each and every day.
{Red Wine photo via Shutterstock}
