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You’ve had them before, those nasty little gray or while round sores inside your mouth on the tongue, the roof of your mouth or inside your cheeks. They hurt and make you feel miserable.

It’s frustrating that there seems to be no consensus on what causes them, or if they can be triggered by bacterial or viral infections, allergic reactions to food, a vitamin deficiency, or if they are contagious.

Most people know certain foods and drinks will stain their teeth. Coffee, for example, is well known as an anti whitener, as is tobacco. But did you know there are certain foods that act as natural abrasives and help keep your teeth their shiny best?

Let’s take a look at some of the culprits and heroes for that pearly white smile of yours. First, here are the bad guys:

Red Wine: Great for your heart, but not so good for keeping your teeth white. Whoever said there’s always a trade off is right in this case.

If you are like most adults, you have a tremendous problem going to the dentist. But unless you go for your regular quarterly or half-yearly sessions, you are unlikely to have the idea oral hygiene program you need. Also, if you want to keep your pearly whites at their very whitest, you need to make those visits to the dentist more regular. Or do you?

The earliest teeth whitening system constituted the usage of large dental reservoirs. These had to be loaded with some semi-liquid substance, and kept on the whole night. The sleeper had to be careful not to get the stuff on the gums, which was a rather difficult task considering that the gums surrounded the entire set of teeth, plus the person salivated constantly! The results were not healthy–the gums, along with the teeth, ended up looking bleached! The teeth did become white, but the gums became very sensitive and weak.

When we are kids we focus on the dentist and the hygienist as giving advice on how to avoid tooth decay. Later as adults we realize that everything in the mouth is connected and related so all of the brushing and flossing advice over the years can help prevent gum disease as well. Kids don’t like the drill and the chair, but have a very high tolerance for the minor annoying gum disease problem. A little bleeding and sensitivity don’t bother them much and the problems can often go untreated.