Our diet can greatly influence our oral health by affecting the structure and physical appearance of our teeth. That’s why we show you what to eat to have white teeth and not turn yellow.
The structure and components of tooth enamel
The toothpaste It is a structure that protects the most fragile internal areas of the teeth, known as dentin and pulp.
Namely, constitutes the first defense barrier of our teeth and the most important against cavities, because if the enamel is damaged, the chances of cariogenic bacteria colonizing our teeth increases considerably.
Bright white in color, it is the hardest component of the human body and is made up of 94% calcium phosphate called hydroxyapatite, that is, there we find calcium and phosphorus in high proportions.
Millions of hydroxyapatite crystallites make up tooth enamel and are held together as close together as possible by organic material, forming a barrier that protects the internal structure of the teeth.
What to eat to have white teeth
To preserve the dental enamel that allows our teeth look white, it is essential to take care of the aforementioned structure with a quality diet and proper hygiene habits.
In this sense, we tell you how our diet should be to achieve white teeth, that do not turn yellow:
The healthiest and most protective foods
- Milk and derivatives without sugar, which has been shown to attenuate the stains that foods such as tea or coffee can cause on tooth enamel, while providing high proportions of calcium and vitamin D, which favor the structure of hydroxyapatite crystals in tooth enamel.
- Fresh fruit with its skin that can be a source of natural whitening compounds for our teeth and at the same time offer fiber in appreciable amounts as well as sugars without cariogenic power. Among the main fruits with a protective effect are papaya, strawberries, lemon and orange.
- Water in sufficient quantities, key to proper hydration of the body that promotes metabolism and dental health in all its aspects.
Foods to avoid to take care of our teeth
- Excessive tea or coffee that can stain our teeth as well as reduce the absorption of calcium in the body due to its content in tannins and oxalates, which favors the demineralization of tooth enamel.
- Fruit juices and sugary soft drinks that not only have high cariogenic power due to their sugars, but also that weaken tooth enamel due to their acids, favoring the entry of bacteria and substances that can color our teeth, making them more yellow.
- Gummy bears and other sweets source of sugars that can promote the development of bacteria that cause dental infections and can stain as well as damage the structure of our teeth.
As we can, to preserve white teeth it is key to take care of what we eat, avoiding sugars, highly acidic beverages, alcohol and foods such as excessive tea or coffee that can cause stains or demineralize our teeth.
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Image | Unsplash and Jumpstory
