To get a brighter, whiter smile, the answer is flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and brushing our teeth regularly according to dentists and oral care websites. They’re not wrong. In fact, whitening strips and dental cleaning can speed the whitening process. However, did you know there are foods that make your teeth whiter without harmful chemicals? Help your clean white teeth stay white or get whiter by eating these foods.
Broccoli
The fiber in raw broccoli cleans and polishes teeth by scrubbing off the nasty gunk in the mouth. Further, the iron in broccoli creates a tough barrier on top of enamel to prevent acid enamel erosion, bacteria, and stains from degrading enamel. Additionally, it reduces inflammation, prevents cavities, and prevents tooth decay. These benefits make broccoli’s hard exterior a toothbrush substitute. It won’t have the same effect if broccoli is steamed or boiled.
Carrots
The nutrient-heavy carrot does more than strengthen eyesight and tighten the waistline. For oral care, carrots in raw form have a hard surface that removes stains while polishing and whitening teeth. By rubbing or crunching on hard carrots, your teeth get maximum protection almost immediately. Vitamin A protects the enamel from acid, bacteria, and stains that decay, erode, and cause cavities. In addition, the water in carrots combined with saliva wash away hard to reach food stuck in teeth. It’s similar to water or mouthwash. A carrot’s toughness strengthens gums, too. Like broccoli, carrots lose the effect if cooked.
Strawberries
The red stains in strawberries seem as though they would stain teeth more than clean it. However, a strawberry’s malic acid and ellagitannins stop tooth discoloration by stopping the stain-creating bacteria. The red stain actually whitens teeth (with or without adding baking soda) and reduces mouth and teeth inflammation. The Vitamin C stops inflammation in gums and periodontal disease from forming.
Cheese
Channeling the calcium most dairy products have along with phosphorus, protein, and assorted minerals, cheese keeps tooth enamel tough. Casein stops mineral loss in tooth enamel. The lactic acid in cheese prevents tooth decay, too. Furthermore, harder cheese produces saliva to clean food stuck on teeth, strengthens teeth, reduce stain build-up, and strengthens gums.
Routine checkups with the dentist, combined with at-home oral care routines, can help you achieve a brighter smile. In the meantime, there’s no harm in eating foods to help speed up the whitening process. Let this be a motivator to search for more whitening solutions in foods. They’re out there.