Like your body, your teeth also need a good diet to maintain oral health. With the consumption of acidic and bright-coloured food and beverages, the enamel of your teeth gets affected by discolouration. There are several methods which can help in removing tooth stains such as dental crowning, veneers, in-office bleach treatment and over-the-counter products. However, these professional treatments are advised when your teeth are extremely damaged/discoloured. Otherwise, there are various natural ways you can adopt to remove teeth stains and do whitening.
The Science Behind Natural Teeth Whitening
Natural teeth whitening has gained immense popularity over the years mostly because of the nature of the solutions- easy and affordable. This is the primary reason why a lot of people opt for natural remedies for removing teeth stains and teeth whitening rather than going in for a professional teeth whitening. Along with being less expensive it is also less time-consuming.
Two easy natural teeth whitening methods are-
Baking Soda- Brushing your teeth with plain baking soda whitens the teeth. You can also form a baking soda paste with water and rub it on your teeth.
Hydrogen peroxide- It is considered to be a natural bleaching agent and is often used in toothpastes.
Top Foods That Naturally Whiten Teeth
Teeth staining can happen to anyone but it is easily preventable. If you replace certain acidic and bright-coloured foods with foods that can help keep your teeth white, your teeth won’t get stained and you won’t require any treatments as such. Many foods help you with teeth whitening.
Let’s list down the best food for teeth whitening:-
Strawberries- Strawberries can help with teeth whitening. Strawberries have a natural bleaching agent which can help you keep your teeth white. Strawberries contain malic acid which not only whitens teeth but also helps produce saliva to tackle a dry mouth. Include strawberries in your diet for whitened teeth.
Watermelon- Watermelon is a water-based fruit which contains malic acid, that too, in double the quantity of strawberries which helps in whitening teeth.
Leafy greens- Ma was right, “Eat your veggies!”. Eating green leafy vegetables not only makes your overall health better it also keeps proper care of your oral health.
Pineapple- Pineapple is considered the best fruit for teeth whitening. This is so because inside pineapple there is bromelain which is an effective teeth whitening compound. It is extracted and used in many oral care products to remove stains as well.
Dairy products- Milk, yoghurt and cheese are also natural teeth-whitening foods. Dairy products contain lactic acid which whitens and strengthens teeth.
Additional Tips for Natural Teeth Whitening
Along with taking foods for teeth whitening, you can also consider the following remedies for naturally whitening your teeth.
Oil Pulling- An ancient ayurvedic method which is still used by many to maintain proper oral health care. Take some coconut oil, squish it in your mouth and spit it out. To make the process easier you can take Perfora’s Vedic Rinse Oil Pulling which has a unique blend of oils and has many health benefits from oral health to general health. Learn more about how to do oil pulling for teeth here.
Regular brushing- Regular brushing and flossing help you avoid many dental problems including tooth stains. With regular brushing, the stains get removed and leave you with white teeth. To enhance teeth whitening you can also brush with baking soda for teeth whitening or use our teeth whitening powder by adding it to your toothpaste before you start brushing.
Banana peel- Just like oil pulling, rubbing banana peel is also a traditional tooth whitening method that people used to employ. However, the method has lost its traction over the years as scientific studies have come into light stating that not only does it not help with teeth whitening it also damages the surface (as per ADA). So if anyone around you is still saying that Banana is also considered good for teeth whitening, update them!
Avoid staining food items- To keep whitened teeth, you must avoid taking bright-coloured foods and acidic drinks regularly. You can limit the consumption and reduce the frequency.
How to Incorporate These Foods into Your Diet
Focusing on your diet can help you deal with your overall health as well as problems like teeth staining which are very common oral health problems. Above, we looked at many foods that help in whitening your teeth. In this section, let’s discuss the ways of incorporating these foods into your diet so that you can see results.
- You can start your day with oil-pulling and then eating fruits such as strawberries, watermelon and pineapple which also acts as a healthy breakfast.
- You can add green leafy vegetables to all your meals and simultaneously avoid bright-coloured foods.
- You must drink plenty of water throughout the day to remove any food debris from your teeth. It’s recommended that you drink 2 litres of water a day so let’s aim for that.
- After any meal, you can start rinsing your mouth to avoid food debris staying behind.
- You must include dairy products in your diet. You can have yoghurt at lunch and end your day with a glass of milk.
Conclusion
A combination of proper diet, oral health hygiene and regular dental visits will help you keep your oral health in check. By incorporating these foods, you can enjoy better oral health, whiter teeth and these changes will also help you keep your overall health in check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) What foods can help whiten teeth?
A) There are many foods that can help with teeth whitening such as green leafy vegetables, strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, milk, yoghurt, nuts and seeds, apples and carrots.
Q) Can milk whiten teeth?
A) Yes, milk can help whiten teeth. Milk forms a protective layer which prevents stains. Dairy products contain lactic acid which whitens and strengthens teeth.
Q) Do bananas whiten teeth?
A) Rubbing banana peel is a method which was traditionally employed for teeth whitening but has lost traction. As per ADA, it does not help with teeth whitening and also damages the enamel.
Q) What foods whiten your teeth?
A)- While no foods directly whiten teeth, adding certain foods like green leafy vegetables, strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, milk, yoghurt, nuts and seeds, apples and carrots to your diet can help with teeth whitening.