Whiten Teeth Safely with These Everyday Foods
Do you want to whiten teeth but feel wary of commercial whitening preparations that may strip your teeth of its precious enamel? Overuse of these products certainly causes dental problems for many people. Why not save yourself the potential hassle and expense, and simply eat your way to a brighter smile? Following are several delicious and nutritious foods that will help you do just that.
Strawberries
Strawberries contain significant amounts of a compound called malic acid, which removes surface discoloration from teeth. However, because strawberries also contain high amounts of citric acid, which can soften tooth enamel, they shouldn’t be used in the creation of homemade toothpaste as is commonly advised. Instead, eat a handful or two on picnics or at other events when they’re in season to give your smile a temporary boost. Their red juice will create an appealing red glow on your lips — they’re the perfect date food.
Celery and Carrots
Crunchy vegetables provide natural roughage that helps remove plaque and food debris from your teeth and also works to stimulate saliva production. Saliva is vital to a sparkling smile because it keeps oral bacterial populations at bay, reduces plaque buildup and keeps your mouth free of food particles. Healthy saliva production also promotes good dental health by strengthening gums, and healthy mouths have whiter teeth.
Broccoli
Eating raw broccoli is like giving your teeth a good scrubbing — there are hundreds of little florets on each broccoli head, making it a great option to pack as a finale in brown bag work lunches. Unlike other healthy snacks such as blueberries, broccoli won’t stain your teeth, making them a natural for a midday snack on those days when you’re unable to brush. Speaking of blueberries and other dark fruits that pack such strong nutritional punches that you shouldn’t forsake them altogether, try chewing them as little as possible or even swallowing them whole to minimize contact with teeth.
Hard Cheese
Another snack item that results in a brighter smile is hard cheese. It’s full of calcium, which promotes healthy tooth enamel, and it has a slightly rough texture, so it removes food debris and helps reduce plaque.
Yogurt and Milk
Like cheese, yogurt and milk promote healthy tooth enamel because they’re rich in calcium. The lactose in these foods also protects against potentially damaging tooth decay.
Other strategies for maintaining a bright, healthy smile, and whiten teeth include drinking from a straw when enjoying potentially stain-producing beverages such as dark-colored colas and ingesting plenty of water in order to flush out food debris and discourage the development of harmful oral bacterial colonies. And as you’ve probably noticed by now, the foods mentioned above all have significant nutritional value, making it a win-win situation. We’ve saved the best for last, though — dark chocolate! This delectable delight contains a compound known as theobromine that helps harden tooth enamel and reduce populations of harmful bacteria.
Who needs artificial tooth-whitening products when you’ve got all of the above?
