Your smile can make or break you. In fact, 94% of people said that a smile is the first thing they notice when meeting someone. And while most of us dream of having a Hollywood smile, many of us aren’t doing what it takes to get one.
Besides drinking coffee and dark juices, there are more unexpected ways to stain your teeth without realizing it. We decided to investigate the reasons why our teeth may not look their best.
You Use Berries When You Bake
Although fresh fruits can benefit your health in many ways, they are also known to cause tooth staining. Many people know that eating dark fruits can affect the brightness of your teeth, but eating them in cakes, jams, and jellies can also make your teeth dirty.
However, when it comes to strawberries, their teeth whitening effects are impressive – these delicious berries can make your smile brighter without damaging the enamel.
You Don’t Drink Iced Tea
Sugary sodas and soft drinks can break down tooth enamel, but iced tea can really help you take care of your white teeth. Most iced teas contain malic acid, an organic compound also found in strawberries, which has strong bleaching properties.
It also increases saliva production, which in turn helps fight tooth decay and prevent discoloration.
You Swim A Lot
If you are a dedicated swimmer and spend more than 6 hours a week in a pool, you will likely notice a buildup of brown on your teeth. When swimming, you can inadvertently let water get into your mouth, and any chemicals in pool water can cause stains on your teeth.
Although chlorine helps remove bacteria from the water, it can cause teeth to turn yellow or brown and weaken the enamel, leaving teeth overly sensitive.
You Use Mouthwash
The mouthwash is supposed to give you fresh breath, but it’s worth checking the labels before buying the next bottle. Some ingredients in mouthwash can react with food coloring and, instead of whitening teeth, can dull their pearly white hue.
If you can’t imagine your oral hygiene routine without rinsing, opt for types that don’t contain chlorhexidine or eucalyptol ingredients and rinse your mouth just before bed.
You’re Using A Firm Toothbrush
Using a stiff toothbrush will not make your teeth too white; in fact, brushing your teeth too hard can erode tooth enamel. This, in turn, will leave your teeth more vulnerable to cavities and subject to staining.
Dentists recommend using a soft or extra-soft toothbrush and replacing it as soon as the bristles are extended.
You Cook With Certain Spices
Seasoning your food will add diverse flavors and aromas to your dishes, but you can limit certain spices if you want to keep your teeth white. Some highly pigmented spices, like curry, can stain teeth and turn them yellow.
If you don’t like the taste of simple foods, season your food with herbs that can benefit your oral health, such as thyme, turmeric, or cinnamon.
Are you guilty of any of these habits? Did you notice what most affects the whiteness of your teeth?
Preview photo credit Shutterstock.com
