Nothing better expresses confidence than a large and bright smile, but if your teeth were not healthy and white, as you would love them to be, then your smile could end up halfway through. Most people notice your smile before anything else when you first meet them. You usually greet them with a handshake and a dazzling display of your pearly white teeth; so, there’s no doubt that your smile plays a significant role in how people perceive you. Smile is the most important physical feature about a person, followed by eyes and physique. A person’s likelihood of success is partially determined by a smile. With all of that emphasis on your smile, you need to make sure you take care of your oral health so that you not only feel great, but also present your best self to others.
Certain habits and substances we eat can compromise a beautiful smile, so make sure to avoid these things if you want to keep your smile intact.
Tea and Coffee: The black pigment (tannic acid) in these beverages consumed especially in the morning stain your teeth brown, not to mention the amount of added cream and sugar that can cause cavities in your teeth. A smart solution is to rinse your teeth with a glass of water after each cup of tea or coffee.
Red Wine: It is well known that red wine is good for your heart, but is no case for a bright smile. The wine pigment can change slowly the appearance of the teeth, giving them a matte finish. In fact, red wine is a tasty mixture of natural tannins, acids and dyes that can work together to stain and etch your teeth, affecting its enamel. Your teeth will become increasingly soft. A rigorous dental hygiene will significantly prevent this. The same is true when you eat raspberries, blueberries or strawberries.
Coca-Cola: This beverage has the same disastrous effect on teeth as teas and coffee. Coca-Cola has very rich sugar content and is acidic; both aspects damage your teeth slowly in time. In fact, Coke leads to more rapid tooth decay than any other kind of soda. The solution is to brush thoroughly your teeth or rinse your mouth with water after you consume these drinks, otherwise, the sugar and acid from their content will continue their dirty work long after you have finished drinking.
Chocolate: Similar with coffee, dark chocolate texture can destroy tooth enamel and its sugar content can be devastating if you do not brush your teeth thoroughly immediately after eating chocolate. However, studies have revealed that some ingredients in chocolate can fight tooth decay.
Candies: It is known that the very rich sugar content of candies erode the enamel of teeth, causing them to decay. In addition, using your teeth to break hard candies may crack them, destroying the overall look of your smile.
Citrus Fruits: Lemon and lime are very acidic (they contain citric acid). This citric acid in contact with your teeth, over time, can lead to gum erosion and cavities.
To maintain a large and bright smile, make sure you rinse your mouth with clean water after consuming these products. Bottom line, the best smiles come from the heart. So, make sure you take the time to give yourself the love and care you deserve; and that will naturally reflect in your smiles!
By: Mercy Kukah
