A LOOK AT THE POWER OF PLANTS Can a Vegan Diet Prevent Cancer?
Everyone enjoys having a bright, white smile, but it can be difficult to maintain. Foods and drinks can affect the color of your teeth, even with regular brushing and whitening. Knowing what stains your teeth will help you take steps to avoid or prevent future discoloration. WHY FOODS STAIN TEETH Three main substances alter the color of teeth: chromogens, tannins, and acids. Chromogens are strong pigments that cling to tooth enamel and often create more stubborn stains if they mix with other stain-enhancing factors like tannins, which are chemicals commonly found in black teas. Acidic foods or drinks, such as berries and soft drinks, soften and erode enamel, making it easier for the tooth to stain. HOW TO AVOID STAINING YOUR TEETH One of the easiest ways to prevent liquids from staining teeth is to drink from a straw. This ensures coffee, tea, soda, or alcohol will have less contact with teeth. Another good habit is to drink water or brush your teeth directly after a meal so staining substances aren’t left on your teeth unchecked for the rest of the day. Biannual dental visits are also a great way to remove or prevent stains. When dentists polish the surface of teeth, they can fill in rough parts or fine cracks that make staining more likely. One of the pillars of holistic health is the idea that food is nature’s medicine. But while no one is arguing the fact that fruits and vegetables are good for you, there is plenty of debate about just how good they are. Can the right diet cure a cold? Counteract the flu? Prevent cancer? Many vegans, vegetarians, and other plant- based eaters say yes. The cancer question has been on the minds of an increasing number of researchers in the last 30 years. Because cancer afflicts roughly 38% of the U.S. population, it’s an urgent problem and an ever- fluctuating area of study. However, in the last decade, scientists have reached a tentative consensus on the impact of diet on cancer prevention, and it’s a feather in the cap of holistic health. First, let’s get this straight: Going vegan isn’t a surefire way to prevent cancer, and it certainly can’t cure it. But studies do show that sticking to a plant-based diet — and specifically cutting out meat — lowers your risk of cancer. According to Lindsey Wohlford, a dietitian with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, this is in part because plant-based foods contain phytochemicals, which boost the immune system. Plant-based foods are also a great source of fiber, which lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and helps regulate the bowels. As she put it, “Meat just doesn’t do that.”
A comprehensive study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that dietary factors are estimated to be responsible for 35% of all
cancer cases, and that most studies have found vegetarian diets are “modestly cancer protective,”
reducing risk by 10–12%. Studies also link red and processed meats to eight different cancer types and claim the risks meat poses are amplified when it’s fried, grilled, or barbecued. According to the studies, these cooking processes form potentially carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines. The American Institute of Cancer Research recommends a plant- based diet for cancer prevention but doesn’t ask Americans to ditch meat and dairy entirely. Instead, the website claims that as long as you stick to “moderate to small” amounts of animal-based foods, you can have your meat and decrease your cancer risk too.
WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR TEETH TO STAIN? Avoiding Discoloration and Keeping Your Teeth White
SIMPLE METHODS TO KEEP TEETH BRIGHT Using whitening products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, are a great way to whiten your teeth at home. Both of these options not only remove surface stains on the enamel but also prevent cavities, fight off gum disease, and freshen breath. You can also whiten easily at home with custom whitening trays that we can make for you here at the office.
To keep your teeth pearly white, you don’t have to
give up foods that are more likely to stain your teeth. By practicing and maintaining healthy oral hygiene habits, your teeth can remain as white as ever!
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