10 Foods to Eat for a Whiter and Brighter Smile

Healthy, white, flawless teeth are the key to a beautiful, confident smile. If your pearly whites have lost their sparkle and you want to brighten your smile, this article highlights the top 10 foods that can help you naturally whiten teeth.

• Strawberries

Strawberries are an excellent source of essential nutrients like manganese, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants which helps keep your teeth and body healthy. Even better, strawberries can also keep your teeth cleaner and whiter.

Strawberries contain a high concentration of malic acid, a natural astringent that helps remove or lighten teeth stains and brighten your teeth. Malic acid also increases saliva production, protecting you from a dry mouth, tooth decay, bad breath, and tooth discoloration.

A word of caution, you should wait for at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth after taking strawberries. Strawberries contain citric acid, which can weaken your teeth’ enamel.

• Pineapples

Pineapples contain protective enzymes called bromelain that break down proteins, including in your pellicle layer. Your teeth are covered with a pellicle, a layer of salivary proteins that protects your teeth. However, it also absorbs pigments from food, leading to staining and encouraging bacterial and plaque buildup.

• Citric fruits

Citric fruits like oranges, lemons, and likes are high in citric acids, which provide a mild bleaching effect on the teeth. These fruits also contain vitamin C, calcium, and antibacterial properties, which help keep your teeth strong, healthy, and bright.

• Leafy greens

Leafy greens like broccoli, spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce are rich in folic acid, also known as B9 vitamins. These vitamins promote cell repair and growth and help reduce inflammation in the gums. They also stimulate saliva production and make your teeth more resistant to bacteria and plaque, keeping them brighter and healthier.

• Dairy products

Dairy products are among the best foods that can whiten teeth. Dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt are rich in lactic acids, which help lighten teeth stains and keep your teeth brighter. Cheese also promotes saliva production, which washes away bacteria and food debris that can encourage teeth stains. This keeps your teeth cleaner and brighter.

Milk products also contain a special protein called casein which makes your teeth resistant to staining and plaque build-up. Cheese also contains calcium and phosphorous, which helps remineralize your enamel and strengthen your teeth, reducing your risk of decay. Be sure to go for natural, unsweetened, and unprocessed cheese.

• Crunchy fruits and vegetables

Chewing crunchy fruits like apples, carrots, jicama, pea pods, and celery help remove plaque and debris from your teeth, leaving them clean and bright. These foods also promote saliva production and help wash away bacteria, debris, and acids from the mouth, leaving your teeth and mouth healthy and brighter.

• Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are an excellent part of a healthy and balanced diet. Certain nuts and seeds like cashew nuts, almonds, sesame, and walnuts are rich in essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E, which help keep your teeth and body healthy and strong.

Chewing nuts also help scrub away plaque and debris from your teeth, making them cleaner and brighter. They also promote saliva production, which helps keep your teeth and mouth clean, healthy, and bright.

• Water

Drinking water regularly helps keep you hydrated and healthy. Water helps prevent a dry mouth and wash away food debris, bacteria, and acids from the mouth, keeping your teeth clean, bright, and healthy. Rinsing your mouth after meals helps remove staining pigments from food, helping you maintain a brighter and whiter smile.

• Watermelon

Like strawberries, watermelon contains malic acid, which helps lighten teeth stains and brighten your smile. Chewing watermelon also provides a crunchy effect that helps scrub off plaque and debris from teeth. Watermelon also stimulates saliva production, which promotes a cleaner, healthier, and brighter smile.

• Onions

Onions are also great foods for white teeth. While they can mess with your breath, they are rich in antibacterial sulfur compounds that make your teeth resistant to plaque and debris. Eating foods with onions helps keep your teeth cleaner and brighter. The fact that you’re likely to brush your teeth after eating onions (due to their strong smell) further helps you maintain a brighter and healthier smile.

Final Verdict

Most teeth-whitening foods will only help remove mild staining and keep your teeth whiter. However, they may not be effective for deeper teeth stains or discolorations. In such cases, you may need teeth whitening treatments to transform your smile. For more teeth whitening tips and smile makeovers in Quincy, MA, at Quincy Dental Associates.