Foods that save or spoil your smile

Growing up, my grandfather who was an ancient physician used to keep sodas and other carbonated drinks under lock and key. No joke: it was water, milk or prune juice on a daily basis. Coca-cola was only for very rare occasions. Like this article points out, if you've ever seen a science fair project demonstrating the effects of soda on teeth, it's easy to see why he would want to limit the intake in such a way.

But Coke isn't the only thing you should watch out. Other sugary beverages like sports drinks or even fruit juice have an acidic base that is doubly dangerous for pretty smiles. A great suggestion for bypassing your teeth when drinking these things is to use a straw (it can also avoid staining them).

So what about bread, chips and all that other good stuff? Well apparently anything sticky like that can cling to teeth and cause cavities. Don't be surprised: they can hang out in your mouth for 20 minutes after eating! What can you do? Try brushing afterward, or if that isn't an option drink some water and chew sugarless gum to break up that clinging material. Those are some things to keep an eye on, but thankfully there's a "smile saver" list of foods that benefit a good smile too. These include apples, cheese and even tea! Read on for more.