(Photo By Flickr User Kenneth Lu)

The first thing people notice about you is your smile.

Sure you get compliments all the time, but you can’t have a beautiful smile without healthy, white teeth.

But as most of you may know, brushing and flossing alone don’t cut it. Also, whitening toothpaste won’t make your teeth any whiter either.

According to blackamericaweb.com, there are a few tips for truly white teeth that make your smile glisten; they are as follows:

1) Drink a Lot of Water –

This keeps the body hydrated, increases salivary flow and rinses away food particles.

2) Eat Crunch Fruits –

Crunchy plant foods – such as apples, cauliflower, carrots and celery – work as an abrasive scrub for your teeth. These fruits and vegetables also encourage saliva production, helping to prevent plaque formation.

3) Avoid Sugary Foods & Drinks –

High levels of sugar can lower the pH in the mouth, destroying tooth enamel. Bacteria that reside in the mouth eat sugar, creating acid as a byproduct. This acid breaks down and demineralizes the enamel. Bacteria can thrive in the nooks and crannies of this broken down enamel.

4) Stop Smoking –

Not only is smoking bad for your health, it stains the teeth and dries out the mouth, decreasing saliva flow.

5) Do NOT Brush Immediately After Eating –

By waiting 30 minutes, you give your saliva a chance to remineralize your teeth. When you have a sugary meal, the pH in your mouth lowers, demineralizing the enamel. When you brush right after eating, you can damage the enamel because it is in a weakened state. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and wait for at least half an hour.

6) Don’t Use Toothpastes Containing Whiteners –

Use a fluoride toothpaste to keep your teeth clean and then find a peroxide-based option to keep them white. Chase says the only way to whiten teeth is to apply peroxide to the tooth for an extended period of time.

7) Do Not Eat Sticky Foods –

For a dental decay standpoint, avoid foods that are really sticky and can get into the grooves of your teeth. This includes caramel, fruit chews, gummy candies and anything else that can stick to your teeth and lead to enamel breakdown.