6 Surprising Foods To Avoid For A Pearly White Smile

If there’s one cosmetic feature that most people crave, it’s that pearly white smile. Blemishes can be covered in five minutes and dry skin can be moisturized in one, but fixing discolored teeth usually takes a little longer.

As such, it’s important to make sure you give your pearly whites a fighting chance!

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the usual suspects that cause sugar to build up and can quickly diminish that whiteness. Rather than focusing on those, this article will run down some of the foods that you may not have considered, that can have similar effects.

​Firstly, how do I eradicate discolored teeth?

Besides the obvious ‘brush more,’ there are several things you can try. On the more expensive side of things you have dentist surgery, which can permanently keep those chops of yours white. You can enquire with your dentist about this - results are generally solid and side effects are minimal.

Elsewhere, there are over-the-counter methods like whitening strips and gels. You could learn more about the best teeth whitening strips, and brush up on your gels, before you make a decision. On to the food!

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Berries

And that’s all kinds of berries too - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. They’re extremely good for your insides, being packed full of antioxidants and all. But for your teeth… eh. They’re more likely to cause unsightly stains than anything else, so eat in moderation.

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Ice

Not that you’ll be scoffing ice on a regular basis, but still, if you want an extremely cool drink this summer, beware! We all have a tendency to chew and grind down those ice cubes, and this can wear down the teeth and make those smiles less than perfect. Let the ice melt or better yet… don’t chew it!

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Sports drinks

They’re deceptively healthy, claiming to enhance your performance and make you faster. However, these drinks are absolutely packed full of sugar, and that’s their secret. They may in fact give you that quick burst of energy, but it’ll be at the expense of your oral health.

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Bread

Bread is packed full of starchy carbs, and it’s these carbs that are the culprit here. Besides getting stuck in between your teeth, starches in contact with plaque can create acids that attack your teeth.

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Medicines

Does this count as a food? Sort of. You certainly drink calpol like it’s a foodstuff, and that’s the basis we’re going on here. The problem with medicines like these is that they dry out your mouth, and that’s the source of the problem.

Having a mouth that’s too dry can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which leaves white spots on the teeth. These are very hard to remove, so stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary drugs.

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Pickles

Pickles are usually… well… pickled, before you consume them. The process of pickling involves dunking the food in question into a vat of vinegar. This vinegar contains a lot of acid, and this acid can move on to damage your chops.

Pickles can wear down the enamel and make your teeth just a little less shiny. Avoid where possible!

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by Iconic Chica Contributors