How to eat your way to whiter teeth

As the saying goes “you are what you eat” but when it comes to healthy teeth “you are what you chew”. Having yellow or brownish teeth can be so embarrassing and can make one to lack self-confidence. Immediately you open your mouth to speak, all eyes will be on you, why? Because of that coloured teeth. Did you know that what you eat and how you brush your teeth can affect it? Smoking, drinking alcohol and eating sugary foods can cause the teeth to be coloured or even decay. Did you know that some foods, fruits and drinks can brighten the teeth without you having to visit the dentist? Surprised? Well you are about to find out. Never smile with your mouth closed again. ​Adding these foods and drinks to your diet can help your teeth appear whiter and cleaner. 

Apples

Apples? Yeah right! Many people hardly buy apples because of how expensive they are. Buying an apple and eating it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to get it. Apples actually contain malic acid, which is contained in some toothpaste. It increases saliva to keep your mouth clean and aids in removing stains to keep your teeth shiny and white. You can choose to eat the green or red apple as both help in cleaning

the teeth.

Oranges

Oranges are a tart fruit, so biting into one causes the mouth to produce increased levels of saliva, which works to naturally cleanse your teeth. Using orange peel to scrub your teeth is also good as this will help in getting rid of germs and dirt that cause the teeth to be coloured. Are you going to throw away orange peels when next you are taking it? Bet you won’t.

Carrots

These babies have a high water content, which stimulates saliva production and helps wash away food caught between your teeth and strengthens your gums. The vitamin A in carrots is good, not just for your eyesight, but helps strengthen tooth enamel as well.

Yogurt & Milk

Yogurt and milk, as well as other dairy products, aid in saliva production, which neutralises acids in the mouth. They also contain protein, calcium and phosphorous, which help protect enamel from acid-erosion.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a really beneficial food in terms of reducing bloat in your body, which includes inflammation in your mouth. Additionally, the little green trees are good for polishing your teeth and contain iron, which helps with enamel protection and leads to a whiter smile.

Pineapples

Pineapples are the only food that naturally contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is a natural stain remover that also helps separate plaque from the surface of your teeth. This prevents tooth erosion and discourages cavities from forming, resulting in healthier and whiter teeth.

Pears

Snacking on a pear eliminates odour-causing and staining bacteria from your teeth and increases saliva production to wash away leftover food.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits, like lemons and grapefruit, increase saliva flow and protect tooth enamel, despite how acidic they are. They also contain high amounts of water, which is good for washing away bacteria in the mouth. Citrus fruits like lemon and lime are a good source of acid.

Water

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but drinking water flushes leftover food particles from your mouth, keeping your mouth clean and your smile bright. Drinking water helps you stay hydrated and prevents stains from forming on your teeth. Swish it in your mouth after eating or drinking pigment-rich foods and beverages to keep your smile white and bright. Water also reduces your mouth’s overall acidity, lessening the likelihood of damaging your tooth enamel. Just make sure you stick to clean water, as the sparkling variety increases the chances of eroding tooth surfaces.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be really difficult to chew - which is good for your teeth. The longer you spend crunching on a food, the more saliva is produced in your mouth. More saliva means more debris is flushed from your mouth, which results in a bright, white smile.

Strawberries

Like apples, strawberries contain malic acid, an enzyme that works to naturally whiten teeth. Malic acid is a natural astringent that acts as a bleaching agent, and it is present in most commercially available tooth-whitening products. Strawberries are filled with this key ingredient, which will whiten your teeth naturally, so make sure to add them to your basket on your next trip to the farmer’s market. The vitamin C in strawberries also aids in removing plaque.

Nuts & Seeds

While you’re crunching away on a granola bar, the nuts and seeds inside are working to remove plaque and stains from the surface of your teeth. Less plaque and surface stains = whiter teeth.

Celery

The crunch factor associated with celery works to scrub teeth clean, increasing saliva production and eliminating bad-breath bacteria.

Baking Soda

Many toothpastes available in stores utilise baking soda as a main ingredient because of its helpfulness in removing plaque and surface stains from teeth. Mix some with a little water to make a paste and try it out once-or-so a week.