By now, most of us know that beverages like coffee, red wine, and soda can all stain your teeth and even darken your smile. But did you know that there are some foods that can help brighten your smile as well? While they’re not as effective as the professional teeth whitening treatments you can receive in our office, they are cheap and natural. That alone should leave you smiling!
Here are the foods you can incorporate into your diet for a brighter, whiter smile.
Dairy Products
Remember when you were younger and your parents encouraged you to drink milk for strong bones? Well, it still holds true today for the bones in your mouth — your teeth! Dairy products, like milk, contain lactic acid which studies have found may help protect against decay. The proteins in dairy products like milk, yogurt, and hard cheeses, bind to your teeth, protecting them from harmful acids that may damage enamel and cause cavities.
Citrus fruits
It’s time to incorporate more Vitamin C into your diet! Citrus fruits like oranges and pineapple cause your body to produce more saliva, which washes and cleans your teeth naturally. This in turn protects your teeth from enamel damage and teeth darkening. Just be careful using lemons directly on your teeth as too much acidity can have the reverse effect.
Strawberries
Despite being bright red in color, strawberries are actually an excellent food to help brighten your smile! This is because strawberries contain malic acid, a natural stringent which works to remove tooth surface discoloration. Have fun eating them in desserts, salads, or on their own and take comfort in knowing that you’re working to whiten your teeth at the same time.
Apples
We hate to admit it, but an apple a day doesn’t just keep the doctor away – it can help keep the dentist away too. Apples are crunchy, which works as a natural abrasive scrub, cleaning your teeth while you snack. And like strawberries, apples have a high concentration of malic acid. Bonus: Pair your apple slices with some slices of cheese as well for a teeth-friendly snack that will brighten up your smile in no time.
Seeds and Nuts
Just like apples, seeds and nuts are a natural abrasive scrub for your teeth. You can try stripping stains from your tooth enamel with the abrasive texture of nuts like walnuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, and almonds, to name a few.
Which of these teeth whitening snacks will you be trying?
