8 Foods That Will Brighten Your Smile
Control Your Diet, Control Your Oral Health
The easiest way to ensure that your smile stays stain-free is to visit your dentist for biannual checkups. Typically, these routine appointments will include a thorough cleaning, an oral cancer screening, and a hygiene assessment. But how can you keep a stainless smile between trips?
Maintaining a strong oral hygiene routine — brushing twice a day and flossing after meals — is a great start, although there has to be something more we can do.
The food we eat plays an integral role in the health of our smiles. If all you eat are empty calorie foods such as candy or sweets and all you drink is soda or juice that’s loaded with sugar, your smile will suffer.
However, did you know there are foods that can protect your smile and even brighten it? Below, we’ll explore these smile-whiteners so you can incorporate them into your diet.
If you can’t wait, you can always visit a dentist like Dr. Kuhrrum Ashraf in Waterloo, ON. He features professional in-office teeth whitening that can restore the natural glow of your smile.
#1: Celery and Carrots
If you don’t have time to brush between meals, try munching on carrots or celery. Their fibrous, abrasive textures act as natural toothbrushes, scraping away plaque and food debris.
Also, the energy that your body uses to chew these crunchy smile-whiteners triggers the production of saliva, which we know is your smile’s first line of defense against bacteria, plaque, and teeth-stainers.
#2: Cheese
Growing up, you likely heard someone say to drink your milk because it will strengthen your bones and keep your smile shining. Well, they were right.
Dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese, and milk contain an enamel-enriching mineral called calcium. In addition to strengthening your teeth, calcium actually whitens them as well to help you achieve a stunning smile.
#3: Strawberries
These bright red fruits contain an enzyme called malic acid, which removes extrinsic discoloration and naturally whitens teeth. The little seeds in strawberries also create a mildly grainy texture that helps scrape away plaque and food debris.
Dentists have noted that you can make a natural whitening solution at home by mixing strawberries and a half teaspoon of baking soda. However, if you’re looking for a professional at-home whitening system, dentists like Dr. Matthew Huff in Kerrville, TX, offer high-grade bleaching, which removes discoloration with ease.
#4: Seeds and Nuts
Another group of food that’s high in fiber is seeds and nuts, such as sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, and cashews. These tasty little treats are an excellent way to rid your smile of surface bacteria, food debris, and plaque.
As you chew, the nuts and seeds act as natural bristles, gently cleaning your teeth — kind of like an exfoliator for your smile.
#5: Broccoli
Inflammation can lead to gingivitis and other dental diseases that allow plaque to fester and damage your teeth. Eating foods that are high in fiber, like broccoli, can reduce the inflammation in your body, including your smile.
Next time you open the fridge for a snack, grab a small bowl of raw broccoli to help clean and polish your teeth. This crunchy green vegetable also contains iron, a mineral that defends against enamel-destroying acids. This helps to prevent stains and cavities.
#6: Pears
When you bite into this delicious, bell-shaped fruit, the skin has an abrasive texture that helps clean your teeth. Adding pears to your diet will whiten your teeth because they scrub the top layer of enamel as you chew, removing stains.
#7: Onions
Eating raw onions might not help your breath — in fact, they’ll almost certainly make it worse. However, onions contain an antibacterial sulfur compound that prevents plaque from building up in your smile.
Onions also whiten your teeth in an indirect way, since you’re more likely to brush your teeth after eating them.
#8: Pineapple
Bromelain, an enzyme with anti-inflammatory and cleansing qualities, is only found naturally in one food — pineapple. This compound is derived from every part of the pineapple, including the fruit, stem, and leaves. Bromelain breaks down surface stains without affecting your enamel, and it’s so effective that it’s used in teeth-whitening kinds of toothpaste.
Combining Foods and Professional Help
While the most effective way to lighten your smile is to visit a dentist, like Dr. Roman Shlafer in Farmington Hills, MI, there’s an assortment of natural teeth-whitening solutions that will restore the brightness of your smile while you’re between visits.
The benefits associated with the foods above range from cleaning properties that imitate your toothbrush to unique enzymes that protect your teeth and remove discoloration.
If you maintain a strong oral hygiene routine and incorporate a few of these delicious and effective teeth-whitening foods into your diet, your smile will stay bright and beautiful for years to come.