There are foods that can stain your teeth, such as wine, coffee, tea, and soda. However, nature has also created certain foods to help whiten teeth. These foods are quite commonly found in people’s homes, and even if you do not have them currently, you can always find them at your nearest grocery store.
While these food items are not as effective as professional dental treatments, they can be cheap and natural ways of maintaining a bright smile. If you would like a quicker and more effective way of whitening your teeth, you can consult with an Aurora dentist and explore your treatment options. Meanwhile, here is a list of food items that can whiten teeth.
Foods to whiten your teeth
- Strawberries.
Strawberries might stain your light-colored shirt and pants, but they are great for whitening your teeth since they contain an ingredient called malic acid. Take a few strawberries, mash them with your hand or a kitchen tool, and rub them over the surface of your teeth. Leave the mashed-up strawberries for five minutes, rinse your mouth and then brush and floss your teeth like you do every day. Carrots can also work the same way.
- Watermelon.
Watermelon has more malic acid than strawberries which is essential and plays a great role in lightening your teeth and promoting saliva production. The fibrous texture of the watermelon scrubs your teeth, which lightens them by removing the stains. While there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim, some people report positive results.
- Carrots, Apples, and celery.
Crunchy fruits and veggies like celery, apples, and carrots can scrub your teeth like watermelon and eliminate plaque and bacteria. This also promotes saliva production and provides good sources of vitamins and minerals for your teeth as well as your body.
- Oranges and pineapples.
Eating tart fruits with a sharp taste can stimulate saliva production. The more saliva your mouth produces, the more naturally your teeth are cleaned. However, do not use lemons or any other tart fruits on your teeth directly because they contain acid, which can damage your teeth.
- Papaya.
Papaya contains an enzyme called proteolytic enzyme. This is also present in pineapple, but it is called papain in papaya. This enzyme breaks down your protein, which degrades your pellicle layer. This reduces stains and protects against plaque formation.
These are some of the food items that can naturally whiten your teeth without chemical use. As you can see, all the items are fruits. However, they do not work magically or overnight as whitening treatments do.
