Your smile is the first thing people see, so make sure you're eating the best foods for healthy teeth. Dr Gladys explains which foods can naturally brighten your smile.
If your teeth need a little brightening, but you'd prefer to skip whitening treatments, you're in luck. Here are 12 natural remedies for whiter teeth that you may already have in your kitchen.
- Apples
- Pineapple
- Broccoli
- Cheese
- Water
- Strawberries
- Oil (sesame oil or virgin coconut oil)
- Celery
- Carrots
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Salmon
- Onions and Garlic
Just chewing on apples helps scrub your teeth. Apples also have a high concentration of malic acid, which is used in some kinds of toothpaste. Malic acid increases saliva, which cleans your teeth and helps remove stains, according to a 2013 study conducted at the University of Grenada (Spain).
Pineapple is the only food that naturally contains a bromelain-a compound with anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties. A recent study in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene found that bromelain is an effective ingredient in a stain-removing toothpaste.
Broccoli is high in fibre, and eating lots of fibre helps reduce inflammation in your mouth (along with the rest of your body). Eating crisp raw broccoli can help clean and polish your teeth and, according to research in the European Journal of Dentistry, the iron in broccoli has the added benefit of providing a wall of protection for your teeth against the enamel-degrading acid that's produced by bacteria. This helps prevent stains and cavities.
Here's another reason to smile for the camera and "say cheese." Cheese helps keep your teeth strong with minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, and protein that protects tooth enamel. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the lactic acid in cheese is also protective against tooth decay. Plus, hard cheeses help clean your teeth by stimulating saliva.
Drinking water throughout the day promotes saliva production, which in turn helps keep your pearly whites, well-white. Sipping water during and after a meal also helps rinse your mouth of any debris and loose plaque.
Like apples, strawberries also contain malic acid, and they have the added benefit of ellagitannins, antioxidants that can help reduce stain-attracting bacteria and inflammation in your mouth. And, strawberries' vitamin C can help prevent gum inflammation and periodontal disease.
Oil, or more specifically, oil pulling, is when oil is used for gargling, not cooking. Sesame oil or virgin coconut oil is swished around inside the mouth and then spat out after fifteen minutes. As the substance is vigorously “pulled” back and forth between your teeth, the mucous membranes inside your mouth absorb nutrients from it.
Sesame oil has omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, and vitamins A, B and E; while virgin coconut oil has antibacterial properties that promote healthier gums and cavity-free teeth. Just make sure not to swallow any of the spittle that will form as you gargle.
Say goodbye to tooth stains as you snack on that piece of celery during your break! The fibrous cellulose act as a natural toothbrush, while the high water content stimulates saliva production, your natural mouth cleanser.
Chewing on these rabbit favourites raw will increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, cleaning it further. The vitamin A in carrots is good, not just for your eyesight, but helps strengthen tooth enamel as well.
This fungus is filled with lentinan, a type of sugar that does not promote tooth decay, but instead curbs its formation by preventing plaque-building bacteria from proliferating in your mouth.
The vitamin D found in salmon helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, nutrients that strengthen your teeth and contribute to a beautiful smile.
The key is in eating these raw. Doing so releases bacteria-reducing compounds called thiosulfinates and thiosulfonates, promoting healthier teeth by reducing the production of plaque. Being colourless, these foods will also not stain teeth.
Do you have other ideas on how to help whiten teeth naturally? Share them in the comments below!