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The Food in Your Fridge Can Whiten Your Teeth!
Do you want a brighter, whiter smile, but feel that a tooth whitening treatment just isn’t in the cards for you right now? Don’t worry! You might be surprised to know that you already have what you need for natural teeth whitening right in your kitchen!
When you’re trying to whiten your teeth (or keep your teeth white), enjoying foods high in calcium, iron, malic acid, and natural abrasives can help eliminate stains and discoloration over time. You probably enjoy many of these foods as part of a healthy diet already, but if not, add them to your plate for a cost-effective and natural route to a whiter smile until you can schedule a professional tooth whitening treatment.
The Best Foods for a Naturally Bright Smile
1. Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away—and the plaque and harmful bacteria too! The fruit’s crunchy texture naturally brushes away plaque, while the high water content helps your mouth produce more saliva, washing away the bacteria that can lead to tartar and stains on your teeth.
2. Onions
When you think of onions, you don’t automatically think of natural teeth whitening. Instead, you probably think of tears and bad breath. Raw onions have a superpower when it comes to natural whitening, though. They contain sulfur, which acts as a barrier to plaque forming on our teeth.
3. Strawberries
You might be wondering how red strawberries can actually whiten teeth. Strawberries are high in malic acid, a natural astringent that prevents stains from forming on your teeth. Unlike other red foods like red wine or tomatoes, which can stain your pearly whites, you don’t have to worry about stains when you enjoy strawberries.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda often tops the list of suggestions of how to whiten teeth naturally. And in fact, most commercial whitening toothpastes and teeth whitening products include baking soda as an active ingredient. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, which helps it scrub surface stains and plaque from your tooth surface.
5. Nuts and Seeds
Fruits and vegetables aren’t the only natural whitening options in your kitchen. Snacking on nuts and seeds is like exfoliation for your teeth. Cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, and sesame seeds have an abrasive texture that’s beneficial to your smile. Eating a handful of nuts and seeds can help remove surface stains and plaque, leaving your teeth a little whiter.
6. Broccoli, Celery, and Carrots
Raw vegetables like carrots, celery, and broccoli are great for whitening your teeth because they scrub away the plaque. Carrots and celery have a high water content, making your saliva glands work overtime, which washes away bacteria. Broccoli is especially good for your oral health, as it is high in iron and calcium. Both minerals help form a protective coating over your teeth, protecting them from acidic foods that can damage tooth enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to stains and decay.
7. Cheese and Yogurt
Dentists often recommend enjoying a small piece of cheese for a snack, especially when you can’t brush your teeth right away. Cheese, as well as yogurt, contain several minerals and acids that support dental health. Lactic acid helps guard against tooth decay, calcium strengthens teeth and gums, and casein helps protect tooth enamel, all of which help keep your teeth naturally white and healthy.
Alternatives to Natural Teeth Whitening
No matter what you eat, for the healthiest smile, brush and floss daily and schedule an appointment with your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and exam.
And, if natural teeth whitening isn’t giving you the results you want, Penn Dental Family Practice offers professional whitening treatments. We offer both take-home trays, which gradually whiten your smile over two weeks, and in-office whitening treatments that give you even faster results.To learn more about how to whiten teeth and brighten your smile, make an appointment for a consultation at Penn Dental Family Practice.
