Imagine opening a wicker basket filled with crunchy mixed nuts, sharp cheeses, and tangy citrus fruits. No, it's not a delightfully healthy picnic spread. It's actually everyday food items that can help whiten your teeth. Here's some more food for thought — what you eat affects your teeth whiteness. It's true. You could go down the oral health aisle and grab a teeth whitener off the shelf. Or you could update your grocery list by adding foods that make your teeth white, while also appealing to your taste buds. Chances are, most of the items are already in your fridge or pantry. Give the below a taste to see for sure.
How To Get Whiter Teeth With The Right Foods
1) Avoiding Certain Foods
First things first — prevention. Before you start adding to your diet, you should be eliminating some food and drink stain-causing culprits. By keeping them a part of your routine and menu, you're allowing them to slowly discolour your teeth over time.
To stop your teeth from staining, try eliminating:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Berries
- Pasta sauce
- Curries
2) Tart Foods
You may not know it, but the saliva in your mouth is your own personal teeth whitener. It naturally washes away food debris that can stain your teeth. Try tart foods like:
- Grapefruits
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Green apples
They can boost your saliva production into overdrive to help keep those teeth squeaky clean.
3) Dairy Products
Some say cheese makes everything better. Well, they may not be wrong. The benefits of cheese and yoghurt are plentiful and, of course, flavourful. Dairy has the ability to:
- Strengthen teeth and bones with calcium
- Decrease tooth cavities and staining by increasing the pH level in your mouth
- Overpower the harmful germs with the good probiotics found in yoghurt
- Assist in scrubbing away food and stains with hard cheeses like parmesan, romano, and gouda
4) Crunchy Foods
Again, the more foods that can help produce saliva and protect your teeth against cavities, the better. Enter crunchy foods. These include:
- Apples, again
- Celery
- Carrots
- Nuts
All of them help stimulate your saliva-making ability. And these crunchy items are somewhat abrasive on your teeth, aiding in scrubbing down those surface stains.
5) Pineapple
According to ResearchGate, based in Germany, bromelain (an abundant protein found in pineapple) aids in removing surface stains and plaque. It's also been known to decrease sensitivity from sores gums. Now there's food to pine for.
Sure, you can also opt for an over-the-counter teeth whitener. And they'll help. But proper oral hygiene combined with these simple diet and menu tweaks will make that bright smile of yours really pop.
Just remember — keep the red wine corked and pop open sparkling soda on your picnic instead.
Disclaimer:The above information is provided for informational purposes only. Colgate does not accept any liability should the above recommendations have an outcome contrary to the intended result. Always seek the advice of a qualified doctor or dental professional. Do not disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
