We recently penned an article about foods to avoid to get white teeth as a part of our ongoing series on how to improve dental health in your day to day life. While these “what to avoid” articles are insightful, you also want to know what you should be consuming to optimize dental wellness, aesthetics included. Today, we take a look at a few foods to add your shopping cart on your next trip to the grocery store, items that will promote a whiter and brighter smile.
5 Nutritious Foods That Will Help You Maintain White Teeth
1. Broccoli
It’s true, the one food that’s known for getting stuck between your two maxillary central incisors (front teeth) is known as a top teeth whitener, so you may want to leave this dark green veggie in there if no one is looking.
In all seriousness, broccoli indeed supports bright smiles, thanks to the abrasive scrubbing properties of the crown which can help remove stains. In addition, the crunchy stalk helps increase saliva production which serves as the mouth’s self-cleaning agent. But there’s more to it. Broccoli is one vegetable that is high in iron. Studies show that high levels of iron can coat the enamel of your teeth to help ward off stains, harmful bacteria, and acid erosion. Lastly, broccoli is high in fiber, a compound that helps reduce inflammation in the mouth and will thus promote overall dental health.
2. Carrots
Carrots may be good for your eyes due to the beta-carotene content, but this crunchy vegetable is also good for your teeth whitening aspirations. As one of the crunchiest of all garden variety foods, carrots also boast high water content, which together with the texture enhances saliva production. In addition, carrots are high in Vitamin A. Studies show that a Vitamin A deficiency can lead to impaired epithelial cells, which are responsible for secreting calcium, phosphate, fluoride, magnesium and carbonate ions, all of which help form tooth enamel. Simply put, a Vitamin A deficiency can result in poor tooth enamel, which in turn can negatively impact white teether. By consuming carrots frequently, you reduce the risk of Vitamin A deficiency.
3. Cheese
You’ll be able to smile wide and say “CHEESE!” for the camera when your diet includes this dairy byproduct. This is because cheese is also a natural teeth whitener, thanks to high protein, calcium, and phosphorus content, all of which help combat acids in your mouth. In addition to the enamel-fortifying mineral calcium, cheese contains lactic acid. Lactic acid releasing bacteria inhibits disease-causing agents which help to prevent tooth decay, prevent gum disease, and balance your oral micro-biome. In fact, several studies report that lactic acid’s inhibition of oral bacteria suggests a promising role in combating periodontal diseases, which not only serves your overall dental health, it helps equate whiter teeth.
4. Onions (Raw)
This is an unexpected one for many, given the havoc this vegetable can wreak on your breath. The reason raw onions serve your teeth whitening goals, is not so much because of its crunchy and saliva-inducing properties (a side benefit). Instead, it’s because of the fact that they contain thiosulfinates and thiosulfonates, sulphur compounds that are known to reduce tooth decay causing bacteria which also prevent plaque formation. Then there is the less technical benefit – you’re more likely to brush your teeth soon after eating onions to stave off that nasty breath, and the more you brush, the better your teeth will look and feel.
5. Pineapples
Go ahead and book that trip to Hawaii this year because its most popular export is also one of the best teeth whitening foods out there. While acidic (usually a no-no for dental care) pineapples are high in bromelain. Numerous studies, include a groundbreaking one published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, found that bromelain can diminish stains on the surface of teeth without harmful, abrasive effects to the enamel. The evidence of bromelain’s effectiveness in this capacity has prompted producers of teeth-whitening toothpaste that depend upon natural enymes to include bromelain as a primary ingredient as an alternative to perlite or calcium carbonate which can have a more damaging abrasive effect.
The above foods will help you maintain whiter teeth, but if you’re looking for maximum impact and you reside in the Greater Vancouver area, we encourage you to contact Vancouver Dental Speciality Clinic today to schedule a consultation. Our clinic is renowned for its teeth whitening services, and our specialists will devise a custom, combined in-clinic and at-home program that will help ensure that you enjoy a brighter smile that can last a lifetime.