Foods That Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

You may be well aware of the foods and drinks that stain your smile, such as coffee, blueberries, tomato sauce and red wine. However, did you know that Mother Nature offers certain foods that can improve the appearance of your teeth? There are a number of raw vegetables and fruits that can protect your smile from decay and fight unwanted tooth stains. While a professional teeth whitening treatment may be your most effective and quickest solution for a brighter smile, the following foods can provide a gentle whitening remedy or help you retain your professional whitening results for a longer period of time. 

Broccoli

Not only does this nutritious vegetable fuel your body, but it can also act as a natural toothbrush. Eating raw broccoli cleans your teeth as you chew, plus it contains high iron levels that protect your teeth from acid erosion and additional staining.

Oranges

While the inside of an orange can help you fight off a cold, the peel of an orange can whiten your teeth. Simply wash off the peel, and gently rub the white underside of the peel across your pearly whites. The skin of an orange contains variants of Vitamin C without the acidity of the inside of the orange. The peel can fight plaque buildup while offering a gentle alternative to harsh teeth whiteners.

Strawberries

Strawberries are among the best known natural teeth whiteners. They contain malic acid, which acts as a teeth whitener. Some people choose to make their own whitening toothpaste using strawberries and baking soda.  Strawberries do contain sugars, however, so don’t let it be a substitute for regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.

Carrots

Crunch down on a crisp carrot and reap the benefits of its abrasive powers against tooth stains. You can even rub the bright roots of a carrot directly against your teeth for a fast and smooth polish.

Cheese

Cheese is worth smiling for! Not only can cheese help keep your smile whiter, it can also provide amazing protection against tooth decay due to its levels of lactic acids, calcium and other key nutrients. Cheese also increases salvia production, which is your body’s best natural mechanism for washing away food debris and bacteria.

At Avalon Dental Group, we do our best to help patients achieve a whiter and more attractive smile. We offer a number of advanced cosmetic treatments, but we also educate patients on the ways that diet and oral hygiene can influence the appearance of their smile.