There is nothing like a smile filled with white teeth to express joy, contentment and sometimes even embarrassment. There are many products on the market that claim to turn your teeth "pearly white", but most contain harsh whitening chemicals that may also damage tooth enamel, the protective layer of your teeth.
These products aren’t suitable for everyone, as some people have more sensitive teeth than others, and long-term use of these whitening products can cause damage. For those who want to achieve a bright white smile, we recommend you try the following 10 foods, to whiten your teeth naturally, deliciously and without the need for chemicals.
Everyone loves strawberries, and besides their unique flavor, they can also be enjoyed as a natural tooth whitener. Strawberries contain malic acid that dissolves stains on the surface of the teeth and whitens them naturally, as can be seen in the results of a study conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Bologna Medical School. You can eat the strawberries as they are and see the effects of the acid, however, you can also use them as a toothpaste. Simply mash the strawberries, apply toothpaste or baking soda to your toothbrush and put the fruit puree over it. Brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with water and enjoy a bright white smile.
Hard vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli are very helpful when it comes to tooth hygiene because when chewed in their raw state, the action is similar to tooth brushing and it removes stains. The wonderful cauliflower has many health benefits. Besides, when chewed for several minutes, the mouth produces more saliva that also removes teeth stains, creating a natural winning combination for stain removal.
Yogurt and other dairy products, such as cheese, have the same effect as broccoli and cauliflower, as they cause excess saliva which removes stains from teeth. These wonderful foods also contain lactic acid that dissolves dirt that exists on your teeth, leaving your mouth fresh and your smile as bright as ever.
It’s hard to resist the yellow and juicy tropical fruit, whether in a shake, dessert or eaten in its natural form. Apart from its wonderful taste, pineapple also has the ability to naturally clean our teeth thanks to it containing an enzyme called bromelain, which, in a study published in 2012, was found effective in removing stains from teeth. This is due to the fact that bromelain causes the breakdown of proteins that cling to the teeth and form stains, leaving them cleaner.
Many shy away from eating raw onion, but when you discover its benefits, it is hard to refrain from giving it a try. The benefit of this tangy root is the fact that it contains sulfur mineral compounds that prevent the formation of plaque on the teeth and help keep them clean. The smelly breath caused by eating raw onions isn’t particularly pleasant, but it can be easily rid of it either by rinsing the mouth or by eating parsley.
An apple a day won’t only keep the doctor away, but may also reduce your visits to the dentist. The chewing of a hard, fresh apple stimulates tooth brushing and helps food particles be removed from the teeth. In addition, apples have a high water content and it causes increased production of saliva, which, as mentioned above, helps to clean the teeth more efficiently and helps remove unpleasant stains.
The wonderful taste of celery makes it an important ingredient in many recipes, and it turns out that it can also be used as a tooth whitener. Celery has a high water content which helps strengthen the gums and also rinses small food particles from our mouth. In addition, the rough texture of this vegetable causes it to mechanically clean the teeth and remove any materials that have accumulated on them which often are the cause of the formation of different blemishes and stains.
In order for the teeth to remain white, healthy and strong, it is vital that our bodies get enough calcium and phosphorus to strengthen our bones. Salmon is a wonderful fish with many benefits rich in vitamin D, which causes the absorption of these two essential minerals, helping to strengthen the teeth and contributes to their natural whiteness. Eating salmon will help remove and prevent stains from your teeth, while also strengthening the teeth and avoiding structural damage that may be caused.
There is nothing like adding nuts and seeds, such as almonds or sunflower seeds, to salads or eating them as a healthy snack during the day, and if you do this, you also reap their benefits as tooth whiteners. These foods are hard in texture and when chewed, they “brush” the teeth and remove unwanted stains.
Mushrooms are a wonderful ingredient in a variety of different dishes, and their consumption also makes it possible to enjoy their benefits as natural tooth whiteners. These small, meaty mushrooms contain a natural sugar called lentinan, which prevents the decay of teeth and plaque formation throughout the oral cavity. This causes the teeth not to accumulate substances that cause stains in the first place and naturally improves oral health.
