4 Foods That Whiten Your Teeth

There are lots of reasons to brighten your smile. According to Statistic Brain, 74 percent of adults “believe an unattractive smile can hurt chances for career success” and, conversely 96 percent “believe an attractive smile makes you more appealing to the opposite sex.” Your pearly whites can have an impact on your professional and personal life, so it makes sense to lighten their look and enhance their appearance. This is why most people would prefer to have whiter, brighter smiles. At Dr. Craig Armstrong’s Houston dental practice, we offer professional teeth whitening and a wide array of preventive treatments, so we regularly assist patients in achieving this goal.

Unfortunately, there seem to be staining snacks around every corner—coffee, wine, chocolate, and dark sauces can discolor your teeth. However, if you enjoy eating (and who doesn’t?) and want a white smile, don’t worry! There are actually quite a few foods that help to whiten your teeth, so you can lighten your teeth while munching. In the following blog, Dr. Armstrong and our team go over the top four foods that whiten your teeth.

1. Strawberries

You might assume that these bright red berries could leave blotches on your teeth, but actually, snacking on strawberries can help to lighten your smile. Red Book Magazine explains: “don’t let the red color fool you. Malic acid, a chief component of strawberries, acts as a natural astringent [something that makes tissues contract] to remove surface tooth discoloration, says Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics.” According to Red Book Magazine, “you can even mash one up and put it on your toothbrush,” but obviously, if you cover your strawberries in chocolate syrup or coat them with sugar, they could become counterproductive to the color of your smile. We recommend eating fresh strawberries on their own, throwing them in summer salads, or putting them in smoothies.

2. Nuts and Seeds

Grabbing a handful of almonds or a sack of sunflower seeds could be great for your smile. Red Book Magazine reports: “the abrasive texture of sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, and cashews works to remove surface stains – kind of like an exfoliator for your teeth.” When you chew up these hearty snacks, you could actually be scrubbing stains away.

3. Cheese

Cheese lovers, rejoice! A recent article in Eating Well explained: “cheese helps keep your teeth strong with minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous, and protein that protects tooth enamel. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the lactic acid in cheese is also protective against tooth decay. Plus, hard cheeses help clean your teeth by stimulating saliva.” On the whole, most dairy products are quite tooth-friendly foods.

4. Apples

You may have heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but it turns out that eating this fruit can also keep discoloration at bay! Eating Well notes: “just chewing on apples helps scrub your teeth. Apples also have a high concentration of malic acid, which is used in some toothpastes. Malic acid increases saliva, which cleans your teeth and helps remove stains, according to a 2013 study conducted at the University of Grenada (Spain).” Apples are a great on-the-go snack and pair quite well with cheese for an extra tooth-friendly treat!

Do You Crave a Whiter Smile?

Would you like to learn more simple techniques for whitening your teeth or find out about our custom tooth whitening trays? Contact our Houston dental practice today to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Armstrong!

Original Source: https://www.craigarmstrongdds.com/cosmetic-dentistry/4-foods-that-whiten-your-teeth/