You brush, rinse, floss—hopefully
morning and night—but there’s one more thing you can do to keep your
teeth bright and white: consider what they’re chewing. From staining and
weakening your enamel to giving you bad breath, there are many hidden
culprits in your diets. New York City-based periodontist Dr. Nicholas Toscano explains which items will hurt your smile—and maybe even your personal life.
Dark Liquids—Duh!“Teeth
absorb colored liquids—coffee, tea, cola, and wine—throughout your life
causing intrinsic staining of the teeth, which is hard to remove,” says
Toscano. The dark liquid penetrates the enamel, causing discoloration
of the dentin (the innermost layer), which is why it’s so hard to
remove.
Especially CoffeeOn
top of the teeth damage, coffee can ruin your breath—and not just
because stale coffee stinks. “It neutralizes the acid in your stomach,
which sends up some gastric juice reinforcements that belong nowhere
near your tongue.” Brush after you drink it, get a cleaning every six
months to prevent long-term damage, and avoid it before an important
event.
Onions and Garlic“Most
of us know to steer clear of this bad breath duo, but it’s hard to do
when it’s sometimes hidden as a flavor-enhancing ingredient,” says Dr.
Toscano. “Raw onions are worse than cooked, with a lingering punch that
is much harder to get rid of.” He says garlic will ward off more than
just vampires, and is difficult to rinse away. “When cut, it turns into
propenyl sulfenic acid, which is thought to be the chemical responsible
for the vegetable’s eye-watering effects.” This same element gives you
stinky breath.
Anything with Seeds“Poppy,
strawberry and sesame seeds find lodging in every tooth cranny,” says
Toscano. Hard to miss and even harder to remove, these culprits are
embarrassing and can cause damage by hanging out in hidden places.
Corn on the CobCorn
is great on the grill, but not stuck in yours—and it inevitably gets
lodged in there. Cutting it off the cob is much easier on your teeth.
Horseradish“Horseradish
sauce gets most all of its flavor from isothiocyanate, a chemical
compound in the plant with a scent so putrid that it’s a natural defense
against animals,” says Dr. Toscano.
Red Meat“Red
meat can sometimes leave a funky taste in your mouth, not to mention
those hard to pick out pieces that get stuck between your teeth,” says
Toscano, who calls ribs the worst. Add some sugary, cling-to-your-teeth
BBQ sauce and you have a recipe for cavities.
