White Smile, Weak Teeth

Due to personal contact that people have with each other on a daily basis, people want to look their best. In looking their best people want their teeth to look bright and white when they smile.

However as people age the teeth begin to discolor. This is caused by the weakening of the enamel surface. Years of chewing and general use can cause enamel to become thin and cracked, allowing staining agents to stick to the teeth. The staining agents are caused by smoking, teeth grinding, food, and beverages.

Modern dentistry has provided ways of whitening teeth. Dentists can whiten patient's teeth by chemical bleaching and laser light whitening. From the store people can also purchase at home whitening kits and whitening tooth pastes to use on their owner. Unfortunately these whitening treatments can be harmful to the teeth. Bleaching can weaken teeth. The chemicals used eat away the calcium in the teeth which makes them pron to decay. From personal experience I found that over uses of at home tooth whitening products can also weaken teeth and irritate gums.

How To Strengthen Teeth

Strong teeth can stay white and are not stained easily. The way to have strong white teeth is to build strong tooth enamel. The best way to build strong tooth enamel is to increase intakes of the vitamins and minerals needed to build strong teeth.

Nutritional Supplements To Take

Phosphorus- is found in bones and teeth. It is needed to produce strong bones and teeth.

Calcium- is needed to build strong bones and teeth. The more calcium absorbed the more calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. As a result the teeth are stronger and whiter in appearance. Please note that one's bones and teeth act as reservoirs of calcium that the blood taps into for its ongoing need for calcium. So it is important to get as much calcium absorbed in the body as possible.

Vitamin D- helps the body to absorb calcium.

Vitamin C- help absorb calcium in body. The best absorption results when calcium supplement is taken in a small amount and vitamin C is taken in a larger amount. Divide doses of calcium and vitamin C throughout the day.

Magnesium- helps to form tooth enamel.

Food That Stain Teeth

Another way to help prevent stained unattractive teeth is to avoid eating the foods and drinking the beverage that stain teeth:

Black Coffee- Black coffee stain the teeth easily. To help prevent staining when drinking coffee add ½ cup of milk to ½ cup of coffee.

Tea- Avoid dark teas. Drink green teas and herbal teas, which is lighter color tea, do not stain the teeth.

Avoid red wine

Dark Cola- Instead of drinking cola out of the cup or can, drink it through a straw.

Cran Berry Juice- Drink through a straw.

Popsicle- They are made with food color dyes that can stain the teeth to look like the different colors of the rainbow.

Also avoid the following:

Soy Sauce

Balsamic Vinegar

Tomato Sauce

Blueberries, blackberries, and mulberries

Beets

Curry

Just because these drinks and foods stain the teeth, it does not mean one should stop consuming them. Within an hour of eating and drinking any of the foods or drinks that stain teeth, one should brush his of her teeth.

Food That Whiten Teeth

Swish warm water in your mouth after eating and drinking beverages. The warm water can loosen and wash away particles that cause stains.

Spinach, broccoli, and lettuce- These vegetables form a film over the teeth to protect them from staining. So eat these vegetables before eating staining foods:

Celery

Pears

Cauliflower

Apples

Cucumbers

Some advise that brushing teeth with lemon juice can whiten them. However, from personal experience, I advise against this. Lemon juice can weaken the enamel of teeth because of its high acidity.

If your teeth are really badly discolored, consult a dentist before attempting to whiten them yourself. Do not over use at home teeth whitening products. My advice is to only use tooth whitening tooth paste once a week. When using it, brush with a soft tooth brush.

Having strong, healthy teeth will brighten your smile.