Authors: Lisa Drayer
The Beauty Diet (33 page)
glass of water after a meal will help wash away food particles and decay-causing bacteria, but, unlike most beverages, it won't introduce new sugars to your mouth or add calories to your diet. Plus, water can help you feel full and lose weight.
Ice, peanut brittle, and popcorn kernels are all hard on teeth. If your teeth have any weak spots, chomping on something hard could snap off a tooth fragment. Ice and tooth enamel are both crystalline. When you knock two crystals together, the weaker one usually breaks. Sometimes that could be your tooth!
Because green tea is made from unfermented leaves, it contains greater amounts of polyphenols (and less caffeine) than black tea does. Green tea polyphenols prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and inhibit the growth of the
bacteria that can then cause tooth decay. Also, green tea contains natural fluoride, which helps protect tooth enamel from decay.
Remember, the most important part of good dental hygiene is commitment.
Brush your teeth twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste. Brush your tongue too.
There is a proper way to brush teeth. Have your dentist or hygienist show you.
Use a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Electric toothbrushes can help ensure that you brush for the right amount of time and prevent hard scrubbing, but they aren't necessarily better.
Replace your brush every three months—and don't share it with anyone! Your toothbrush comes into contact with millions of bacteria in your mouth.
Floss between your teeth every day. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line—places where toothbrush bristles can't reach.
Try brushing and flossing right after dinner while you still have the energy. This also will discourage evening snacking and help you stay slim.
Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque. Some have fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.
Visit your dentist regularly—at a minimum, twice a year. Only your dentist or hygienist can clean the tartar off your teeth and catch little problems before they become big.
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Brushing with Salt Whitens Teeth |
Salt has a coarse texture, which works to thin the outer layer of your teeth, resulting in brighter and whiter teeth. This is not much different from using a scouring pad on your body to soften your skin. Using salt as a treatment for whiter teeth will shift stains, but it comes at a high cost, such as sensitive gums and teeth and the potential for cavities. |
BEAUTY MYTHFollowing is some information on teeth whitening, courtesy of my brother, Dr. Jeff Drayer, a New York–based orthodontist, and the American Dental Association (ADA).
There are many different approaches to whitening teeth, from over-the-counter strips to professional procedures. The difference in the result depends on the levels of active ingredients.
Teeth with a yellowish color tend to whiten well with a bleaching process, whereas teeth that are grayish do not bleach as well. Teeth that are stained due to tetracycline may be very resistant to whitening procedures.
Enamel microdermabrasion.
Your dentist can use this procedure to file off localized stains or spots.
Whitening mouthwash.
These preparations may contain hydrogen peroxide to bleach your teeth, as well as other ingredients.
