You are what you eat: you’ve likely heard this saying many times before. But this is even more true when it comes to your smile. The foods and drinks you choose to consume have a direct impact on the health of your teeth. If you love smoothies — made with either yogurt or ice cream — you will love these suggestions on what to add for a refreshing twist. Check out these tips for making smoothies:
- Stay away from acidic ingredients: Acidic foods like lemons and even apples attack your tooth enamel and weaken it over time. Actually, acid makes it more porous, which increases your risk for staining.
- Use a straw: When sugar and colorful foods spend more time in your mouth, they are more apt to damage your teeth. By slurping through a straw, you’re directing the smoothie right down your throat, with minimal contact with the inside of your mouth.
- Rinse with water: After you drink your smoothie, swish your mouth out with water. Refrain from brushing and flossing too soon after, as you can actually do more damage by rubbing stain-prone particles onto your teeth. Wait a half hour or so.
- Try alternatives to sugar: Instead of dumping in teaspoons of sugar, try alternatives like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice to sweeten the mixture.
Recipes
Here are some smoothie recipes to try that will brighten and protect your smile.
Banana Kale Smoothie
- 1 banana (you can even try frozen)
- 1 handful kale
- 8 ounces coconut water
- 1 tsp flax seed
- 1 tsp chia seed
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp agave nectar
Blend everything together until smooth. Enjoy over ice. This smoothie is great for your smile because it contains coconut oil, which is known to stop the growth of bacteria in the mouth, preventing cavities and other infections.Your Smile
Cranberry Smoothie
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
Blend almond milk, banana, mixed berries and cranberries until smooth, then refrigerate one hour before serving. Fresh cranberries contain compounds that prevent bacteria from bonding to your teeth.
Yogurt Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup low-fat yogurt
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 tsp orange juice
- 1 tsp milk
Blend until smooth and enjoy. Yogurt is great for your teeth, thanks to its minerals, calcium, and phosphates. These can help rebuild your teeth and keep them strong.
Green Tea Smoothie
- 3 cups frozen white grapes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 1/2 brewed cups of green tea, cooled
- 1 avocado
- 2 tsp honey
Blend grapes, spinach, green tea, avocado, and honey. Enjoy immediately. Green tea is chock full of antioxidants and other nutrients that are great for overall health. Polyphenols are great for your teeth specifically because they control bacteria that causes plaque. They are thought to kill bacteria on teeth and keep them from growing and producing acid that can do a number on your enamel.
Enjoy trying these smoothies and seeing great results for your smile.