Natural Teeth Whitening Foods
Teeth whitening is one of the most requested cosmetic treatments at the dental office. If you’re looking to whiten your teeth without chemicals you can look towards natural remedies. One option is eating foods that can naturally help in that whitening process. There is some evidence that these foods do play a factor in whitening. Teeth stains are a common occurrence that happens where the outer layer of your teeth becomes discolored: staining.
It’s unknown how long it takes for these foods to lighten teeth. There’s no research on the expected time frame. However, compared to commercial products, natural remedies typically take longer.
Strawberries
They may be dark in color and can stain your clothing, but contain an enzyme Malic acid that naturally bleaches. Malic acid can also help increase saliva production (which can help people who experience dry mouth). Saliva coats and protects against tooth decay (which is a common cause of discoloration), and carries food and debris from attaching to the teeth.
Watermelon
Watermelon contains more Malic acid than strawberries. They can help stimulate saliva production and play role in brightening your teeth
Pineapple
Your teeth are covered by a pellicle, a layer of salivary proteins. This pellicle layer helps protect your teeth but also absorbs pigments from the food you eat. This can cause staining. Your pellicle layer can also give bacteria something to hold on to and if they accumulate can result in plaque and tooth discoloration with time.
Pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme called, Bromelain, that can help break down the pellicle layer and its salivary proteins.
Tart fruits such as oranges and pineapple are acidic which helps create saliva production. This increase helps wash teeth clean by removing salivary proteins that are overworked and have absorbed pigments from food.
Papaya
Papaya, like pineapple, contains a proteolytic enzyme.
The enzyme in papaya is called Papain. It also breaks down protein, which degrades your pellicle layer. This helps reduce stains and protects against plaque formation.
Cauliflower
It’s one of those foods that requires a lot of chewing – and that’s a good thing for your teeth. The longer it takes to break down your food, the more saliva you produce. And saliva is a natural cleanser for your teeth to keep them shining bright.
Cheese / Milk / Dairy Foods
The lactic acid in milk may also lighten your enamel. It’s also said to stimulate the production of saliva, which can help wash away cavity-causing bacteria. Casein, a protein in milk, prevents staining too. Casein helps recruit calcium phosphates to repair cavities and prevent plaque accumulation.
Dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, and milk, contain lactic acid and the enamel-fortifying mineral calcium, which strengthen teeth while also whitening them. Chewing on cheese also prompts the production of saliva, which washes away staining food particles.
Whitening In-Office: Your dentist can perform a professional tooth-whitening treatment, which involves applying strong agents to the teeth while also taking special precautions to protect the gums and rest of your mouth (the procedure typically involves gels with buffers that protect teeth from damage). These treatments significantly brighten teeth, making them up to 2-3 shades whiter. But they only whiten the front eight teeth.
