5 Foods That Whiten Teeth Naturally
Were you disappointed by your smile the last time you looked in the mirror?
Perhaps you noticed your teeth have a dull or yellowish appearance that detracts from the beauty of your smile, making you look older. What can you do?
Of course, there are professional cosmetic procedures or whitening toothpastes you could use to brighten up your smile. However, if you are looking for a more natural way to whiten your teeth, here are five foods that will do the job for you.
The psychology of a white smile
Having a bright white smile is essential to your feeling of well-being. A beautiful white smile makes you appear and feel younger, healthier, and more attractive.
A survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic DentistryPDF from the AACD showed:
- 99.7% of Americans feel a great smile is a valuable social asset.
- 74% of the U.S. population feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.
- When asked, “What types of things do you feel make a smile unattractive?”, the most common response was discolored or stained teeth.
- When asked, “What would you most like to improve about your smile?”, the most common response was whiter and brighter teeth.
It’s clear having a bright, white smile is vital.
Foods that stain teeth
Some foods and drinks contain certain chemical compounds called chromogens that give their bright colors, which can stain your teeth.
These foods include:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Sodas
- Fruit juices
- Tomato-based sauces
- Soy sauce and vinegar
If it can stain your clothes, it can probably stain your teeth too!
5 foods that whiten teeth
Here are five common foods that can combat staining and help to revive the dazzle in your smile!
- Strawberries – Contains an enzyme called malic acid, which can remove surface stains from your teeth. Try mashing up a few berries and rubbing them on your teeth for five minutes. Be sure to brush and floss thoroughly afterward.
- Apples, celery, and carrots – These foods can clean your teeth by stimulating saliva and acting as natural tooth scrubbers.
- Pineapples – Contain bromelain (an anti-inflammatory) and natural cleanser often found in whitening toothpaste.
- Cheese – Has lactic acid to remove stains from the enamel and also builds your teeth’s strength with calcium, phosphorus, and protein.
- Water– This isn’t technically a food, but it is one of the cheapest and most accessible ways to clean your teeth. Drinking water during the day keeps your mouth hydrated and able to produce sufficient saliva to keep your teeth and gums clean.
Keeping up a good oral hygiene routine and brushing after you eat stain-causing foods can keep your teeth from staining.
The effects of these whitening foods are very gradual and limited. They can only remove stains on the teeth’s outer surface, and their whitening results won’t be seen for some weeks.
If you have intrinsic stains that go deeper into the enamel or you need quicker results, our experienced Creekside Dentistry team would recommend using one of our professional teeth whitening options: Zoom! Whitening or Opalescence Go Trays. Both options can brighten the teeth up to eight shades whiter in just a few treatments.
Are you from Loganville, Grayson, Monroe, or another nearby community? All you have to do is click on the button below to schedule a convenient appointment with our dentist in Loganville, GA:
