Try these Foods for a Whiter, Brighter Smile!

We all know that wine, tea, coffee and sodas can discolor and stain our teeth. Most people are unwilling to give up their coffee or soda addiction and could not possibly think of starting their morning without coffee or have a meal without a soda.

Luckily, like most things in nature there is a balance. Whereas these liquids can stain your teeth, there are foods that can be eaten to whiten your teeth. So although it may be a good idea to cut down on your coffee or soda intake to prevent stains, these foods can work as an extra combatant against discoloration.

Teeth whitening foods:

• An apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but can also keep you away from having your teeth whitened at the dentist. Apples, celery and carrots increase saliva production in the mouth. Since saliva is the mouth’s self- cleaning agent, these foods make sure it is not in short supply and their crunchy texture helps scrub teeth.
• The acidity in oranges and pineapples is just enough to act like a mouthwash. These fruits also stimulate saliva production.
• Yogurt, milk and cheese contain lactic acid that protects the teeth from decay, which can cause discoloration in teeth. Proteins in yogurt attach themselves to the surface of teeth to protect them from acids that cause cavities. Hard cheeses are also great for teeth whitening and they help remove stray food particles in the mouth.
• Strawberries contain malic acid that whitens teeth. You can turn strawberries into a paste that you can place on your teeth. Leave the paste on for five minutes before rinsing it off and then brush and floss as usual for whiter teeth.
• Seeds and nuts have an abrasive texture that works as an exfoliator for your teeth.
• High fiber, coarse foods, such as broccoli, act as a scrubbing agent.

These foods can be used to remove and prevent stains on the exterior of the tooth, which is normally called extrinsic whitening. If you try the above foods or other extrinsic whitening products, such as a teeth whitening toothpaste, and you are not getting the results you want, it could be because you have intrinsic discoloration.

Intrinsic whitening deals with the whitening of the interior of the tooth. Age, genetics, acidic foods, smoking and even medications slowly discolour the dentin in our teeth. Dentin is a layer of calcified tissue underneath our tooth enamel. Teeth discolouration is a natural process, however, the above mentioned factors and tooth decay can speed up the process. This is why intrinsic teeth whitening treatments, such as bleaching gel are available. Most intrinsic procedures have to be administered at a dentist’s offices.

To figure out what is the best teeth whitening treatment for you, speak to us at East Mountain Dental.