11 Foods that Help Whiten your Teeth and Improve Mouth Health
Taking good care of your teeth starts with brushing often, flossing daily and seeing your dentist regularly. But it’s often easy to forget that caring for your mouth health actually includes thinking about everything you eat and drink, too!
There are several foods you can eat that will actually improve your oral health and help whiten your teeth, so making steps to incorporate these foods into your diet can mean healthier teeth all around.
Top foods that are good for your teeth
Strawberries
Their red colour may be deceiving, but strawberries are actually a great way to help whiten your teeth! They are filled with an ingredient called Malic acid which functions as a natural bleaching tool and is present in most tooth whitening products you’ll find in stores.
Nuts & Seeds
These common snack choices are quite rough and abrasive when you chew them, which helps them to almost exfoliate stains from your teeth, as well as strengthen your gums.
Apples
Apples have a high water content which helps rinse away some of the bacteria that can cause discolouration on your teeth. They are packed with Malic acid which, along with its natural whitening properties, it can help stimulate saliva production to rinse away bacteria from your teeth. The crunchy feel of apples can scrub away dirt, bacteria and stains.
Baking soda
This abrasive powder is commonly mixed with water and used as a tooth paste to whiten teeth. It works to scrub off surface stains and plaque, leaving your teeth whiter.
Carrots, Celery & Broccoli
Crunchy and fibrous veggies scrub your teeth while you chew, and their high water content helps to rinse stain-causing bacteria and dirt from your mouth.
The high level of iron in broccoli helps to provide protection from cavities and stains by blocking acid-producing bacteria that eats away at tooth enamel.
Dairy
Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt help to insulate teeth from stain causing acids. They also contain lactic acid and calcium which both help to whiten and strengthen teeth.
Oranges
Funny enough, it’s not actually the fruit that helps to whiten your teeth, it the skin! Orange skin contains vitamin C which can work as a substitute for teeth whiteners, and it can help reduce tartar and plaque buildup.
Water
It’s no secret water is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s not often mentioned how great it is for your teeth. It helps reduce overall acidity which decreases damage to tooth enamel and is a great way to rinse your mouth after eating dark, stain inducing foods or drinks.
Pineapple
Pineapple is the only food that naturally has an enzyme called bromelain in it. This is commonly found in whitening toothpaste, so its naturally cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties make it the perfect addition to your tooth-whitening arsenal. In addition to its whitening properties it also helps prevent tooth erosion and the formation of cavities.
Raisins
Despite the sticky and sweet properties of this snack, it’s actually great for mouth health! Raisins help to stimulate saliva production which neutralizes the acids present from other foods and bacteria to help prevent the formation of cavities, stains and plaque.
Shiitake Mushrooms
This kind of mushroom has an ingredient call lentinan- a sugar that works against the formation of tooth decay by preventing the bacteria that causes plaque from growing in your mouth.
Healthy Eating and Whiter Teeth is a Win-Win
The foods listed here are all great for helping to whiten your teeth and improve your overall oral health. Adding them to your diet can put you on a path to good mouth health but be sure to schedule your regular dentist visits to stay on top of any possible problems before they start!
