If you think you’ve read or heard all there is to read and hear about how to achieve your cleanest teeth, think again. We’ve gathered four little-known strategies that you can apply in the comfort of your own home. None of these things is going to take the place of good daily habits and consistent dental treatment, but adding them into your routines sure can’t hurt.
Eat your way to whiter teeth
Some foods have qualities that help to clean your teeth as you eat them. These secret edible weapons are typically the crispest and most fibrous options on your grocery list. Eating these secret edible weapons is not an alternative to brushing and flossing, but a way of clearing food particles away from your teeth while you eat since you’re going to eat anyway. Eating these foods can be especially effective if you save them for the end of your meal. They’ll physically help scrub your teeth and even increase the production of saliva in your mouth. Increased saliva production helps keep your mouth naturally clean. Think of it as all-natural teeth cleaning in La Crete. So without further ado, here are some examples of crispy and fibrous foods to eat to achieve cleaner teeth:
- Apples
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Popcorn
When it comes to toothpaste, choose carefully
Since you know you’re going to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time, you might as well get the biggest cleaning effect for your effort. When it comes to toothpaste, your instinct might be to select toothpastes that promise whitening effects thanks to special abrasive contents. Think again. When choosing a toothpaste, avoid the most abrasive options. Those abrasives will actually damage the enamel layer of your teeth over the long haul even if they do temporarily remove more stains in the short term. The trade-off just isn’t worth it.
Try swishing apple cider vinegar, but prudently
Apple cider vinegar has long been treasured for its many health-related benefits thanks to its antibacterial properties. Strategic use of apple cider can help to eliminate the presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth that can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. To get the benefits of apple cider vinegar, dilute some vinegar in a glass of lukewarm water then swish it around in your mouth for a minute or two before spitting it out. Because vinegar is really acidic and acid can degrade the enamel on your teeth, make sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly and to brush your teeth after swishing with vinegar.
Give sugar a pass and try xylitol instead
Sugar is delicious, there’s just no denying it. It’s also a dangerous deliciousness given how directly sugar fuels tooth decay that leads to cavities and the need for fillings. The good news is that there’s a way to satisfy your sweet tooth and give up sugar at the same time. When selecting sweet snacks and gum, look for products that contain the sweetener xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol will not only satisfy your craving for sweet, but it also reduces decay-inducing bacteria present in your mouth while boosting the production of saliva necessary to keep your mouth healthy.
Don’t drop the ball on any of your daily dental hygiene habits like brushing, flossing and mouthwash in favour of these hacks. Don’t skip any appointment with your dentist in La Crete in favour of these hacks. Don’t even skip an annual teeth cleaning near you in favour of these hacks. Instead, incorporate these four hygiene hacks into your ongoing routine to take advantage of every possible path toward clean teeth.