Having a white smile is something that many people aspire to. There are a number of ways to achieve this, but the best way is to combine professional teeth whitening with good oral hygiene habits. However, there are certain foods that make your teeth white or help lighten your teeth’s natural colour. This blog post will outline the top 10 foods and drinks that can help you achieve a brighter smile!
Foods That Whiten Teeth Naturally
Here is a list of the top 10 teeth whitening foods that can help you enjoy a brighter smile:
1. Strawberries
Strawberries are not only a delicious summer fruit, but they can also help to whiten your teeth. The malic acid in strawberries acts as a natural astringent, which can remove surface stains from teeth. In addition, strawberries contain ellagic acid, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
2. Apples
Eating an apple after a meal also helps reduce teeth staining due to its high water content and acidic nature.
Like strawberries, apples also contain malic acid, which can help to remove surface stains from teeth. Apples also contain a high amount of water, which can help to rinse away food particles and other debris that may be stuck on your teeth.
3. Oranges and lemons
Citric acid found in lemons and other citrus fruits, such as oranges and limes, provides a mild bleaching effect on teeth.
- Oranges are not only a delicious source of Vitamin C, but they can also help to keep your teeth looking their best. The citric aid in oranges can help to remove stains from tooth enamel. Additionally, oranges are a good source of calcium, which is important for maintaining healthy teeth and bones.
- Lemons are rich in citric acid, which can help to remove stains from teeth. Lemons also have antibacterial properties that can help to keep your mouth healthy and free from infection.
4. Pineapple
Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, whitens teeth by reducing teeth discolouration.
Pineapples are not only delicious, but they can also help to keep your teeth white. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which has been shown to remove surface stains from teeth. In addition, pineapple juice has been shown to be effective at killing bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
5. Milk, Cheese & Yoghurt
These dairy products contain lactic acid, which has been shown to help prevent tooth decay and improve overall oral health. Cheese, milk, and yoghurt also contain calcium, which helps strengthen your tooth enamel and prevents cavities.
Dairy products also contain calcium, which is important for maintaining strong teeth and bones. Add these foods to your diet for stronger teeth that are less likely to stain.
- The lactic acid present in milk helps to remove surface stains on teeth and also protects teeth from decay.
- Like milk, cheese and yoghurt also contain lactic acid, which can help to remove stains and keep your teeth looking their best. Cheese contains casein which helps protect teeth from erosion due to its alkaline nature. Yoghurt is also beneficial as it contains lactic acid, which helps remove teeth stains.
6. Green Tea
Drinking green tea can help prevent bad breath and contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that fight against tooth-decaying bacteria. Green tea also contains catechins that can help to prevent tooth discolouration and staining. So drink up!
7. Broccoli
Eating broccoli helps to scrape teeth of discolouration and stains due to its crunchy texture.
Broccoli is a great food for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The crunchy texture of broccoli helps to scrub away plaque and other debris from teeth. Additionally, broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound that has been shown to kill bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
8. Nuts and seeds
For many people, nuts and seeds are an essential part of a balanced diet. In addition to providing a range of health benefits, nuts and seeds can also help in the fight against discoloured teeth. Not only do nuts and seeds offer tooth-strengthening calcium, but certain nuts and seeds, such as almonds, walnuts and sesame, can actually “scrub” away plaque from your teeth, buffing off stains and discolouration to make your teeth look whiter.
9. Watermelon
Believe it or not, watermelons may have the secret to teeth whitening. Watermelons contain a high concentration of malic acid compared to apples and strawberries, which helps increase saliva production. Saliva is known to be very effective at reducing the appearance of discoloured enamel and can help reduce plaque build-up on your teeth over time.
10. Celery
Chewing on celery can help to scrub teeth and whiten teeth as it is high in fibre content.
Celery is another crunchy food that can help to clean your teeth and gums. The fibrous nature of celery helps to massage the gums and remove plaque from teeth. Celery also contains a high amount of water, which helps to rinse away food particles and other debris.
Maintain your smile by avoiding these foods
In addition to eating ‘white food’, avoiding dietary choices that stain your teeth is also essential for brighter teeth. This includes coffee, tea, red wine, dark condiments, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and other beverages that can stain your teeth.
Avoid stain-causing foods and drinks
There are certain foods and drinks that can cause stains on your teeth, due to the natural pigments, acids or tannins. Try swapping red wine for white wine, and skipping any dark-coloured berries, fruits and vegetables. To keep your teeth white, it’s best to avoid these foods and drinks altogether or at least brush your teeth immediately after consuming them.
Drink plenty of water
Water helps to rinse away food and bacteria that can cause stained teeth. Avoid fruit juices and acidic drinks that can lead to staining through enamel erosion. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is much healthier and will help to keep your teeth clean and prevent staining.
Use a straw when drinking beverages
If you can’t avoid stain-causing beverages altogether, then opt for a straw when drinking them. This will help to minimise contact between the beverage and your teeth, which will help to protect against pigments.
In the weeks following a professional teeth whitening treatment, avoiding these stain-causing foods and drinks will help you achieve longer-lasting results.
Follow the ‘White Diet’
The best way to get whiter teeth and maintain your bright smile is by following the ‘White Diet’. This means consuming only white foods and drinks for at least 48 hours after your teeth whitening treatment. White foods include white bread, white pasta, white rice, chicken, white fish, white yoghurt, white cheese, potatoes and healthy fruits such as bananas and peeled apples.
These foods provide numerous benefits for a whiter smile, including an increase in saliva production to help cleanse teeth of food particles and bacteria that can cause staining; properties that strengthen tooth enamel; and teeth whiteners such as malic acid (found in strawberries), vitamin C (found in lemons) and polyphenols (found in green tea).
After professional whitening
To help protect your newly brightened teeth, aftercare is important. It is crucial to adopt a “white diet” for several days that eliminates foods such as coffee and tea, tomato sauce, and other staining agents. It is generally recommended to wait at least 48 hours before returning to your normal diet.
Eating a normal diet provides the body with essential vitamins and minerals, as well as provides a balanced approach by limiting refined sugars while emphasising whole grains and lean proteins.
So if you’re looking for the very best results from your teeth whitening treatments, make sure that you limit yourself to just white foods for that initial period, then ease towards a healthy normal diet with plenty of variety once the two-day mark rolls around.
Ongoing oral health
Brush teeth twice daily, floss once a day and avoid foods, beverages and other activities that can darken enamel. In addition, good oral hygiene and visits to the dentist for regular, 6 monthly checkups and cleanings can help to maintain your professional teeth whitening results between treatments.
For a brighter smile, book an appointment at The Teeth Whitener
To get the best results, visiting a teeth whitening clinic is recommended. At The Teeth Whitener, you can find an experienced team of teeth whitening professionals that are committed to giving you the brightest smile possible. Their teeth whitening treatments are safe, comfortable and tailored to your individual needs.
Come visit us at The Teeth Whitener or view our range of teeth whitening treatments online. Contact us for an appointment or book online today!