Eat Your Way to a Better Smile

by WiredBerries Editors — May 8, 2008

You brush and floss and rinse and get regular checkups, but could you do more to brighten your smile? WebMD highlights ways to eat for a beautiful smile:

• Eat carbs at mealtimes--Carb-based foods such as breads and crackers tend to have "a chewy, adhesive texture," making it easier for them to get caught between teeth or under the gum line, where bacteria can then accumulate, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Have carbs at mealtimes rather than as a snack: When you eat a larger amount of food, you produce more saliva, which helps wash food particles away.
• Drink tea--Black and green teas contain polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Many teas also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it's steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel from decay.
• Sip with a straw--Most sodas, sports drinks, and juices contain acids, such as citric and phosphoric, that can erode dental enamel--even if they're diet or sugar-free versions. Sipping acidic drinks through a straw positioned toward the back of your mouth limits their contact with your teeth and helps preserve the enamel, says a study in the British Dental Journal.
• Increase your C intake--People who consumed less than 60 mg per day of C (8 ounces of orange juice or one orange contains more than 80 mg) were 25% more likely to have gum disease than people who took in 180 mg or more, according to a study of over 12,000 US adults conducted at the State University of New York University at Buffalo.
• Eat 800 mg of calcium a day--People who do are less likely to develop severe gum disease, says a recent study by the Buffalo researchers. The reason: About 99% of the calcium in your body is in your bones and teeth. Dietary calcium--available in foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt--strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw, which helps hold your teeth in place. The recommended amount is 1,000 mg per day for women younger than 50 and 1,200 mg for those older.

So keep dental health in mind as you munch and beam on!