A shining white smile is something that gives you great confidence, especially when you meet new people. Having a good oral hygiene routine is one of the key components of maintaining a beautiful smile and a healthy mouth. You should also visit your dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and checkups. You can also go further and take matters into your own hands when it comes to your oral health. Your diet greatly impacts your oral health and the quality of your smile. Here are four tips for eating for the smile you want.

Drink teeth staining beverages through a straw.

How you consume foods and beverages is almost as important as what you decide to eat. Beverages such as coffee, red wine, and sodas all stain your teeth and degrade tooth enamel. You should definitely limit your intake of these sugary, acidic beverages for the sake of your oral health. However, that does not mean that you have to cut them out entirely. When you do decide to indulge, make sure that you sip these drinks through a straw. This allows you to taste them, but limiting their contact with your teeth drastically reduces your risk of developing stains.

Eat plenty of crunchy fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables should be a staple in your diet already; however, they are also very good for your teeth. Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, pears, carrots, celery, and apples help to keep your smile shiny and bright. Chewing crunchy foods stimulates saliva production in your mouth. The increased levels of saliva in your mouth help to wash away plaque as well as leftover food particles. This helps to reduce your incidence of tooth decay. Crunchy fruits like apples and pears can also appease your sweet tooth in a guilt-free way; their natural sugars are diluted by their high water content.

Cranberries help to fight plaque in your mouth.

Surprisingly, cranberries can help to boost your oral health. Cranberries are rich in organic compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols inhibit bacteria's ability to create glucans, which are essential when it comes to binding to plaque. Having a balanced amount of bacteria in your mouth is essential for having a white smile, healthy oral tissues, and reducing naturally occurring bad breath. Cranberries provide a way to let bacteria exist in your mouth while negating their harmful effects. Cranberries can be added easily to your lunch or dinner.

Talk to a dentist like Kappenman Family Dental for more information.