7 Foods to Eliminate Stains & Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

You know there are foods that stain your teeth overtime, like coffee or wine. Acid producing foods can also stain and damage your teeth. And don’t even get us started about smoking — we’ve seen far too many yellow stained teeth to discount that one. In fact, smoking is one of the most common reasons our patients choose professional teeth whitening.

But did you know that there are foods that will naturally brighten tooth enamel as well? And yes, you guessed it: Many of these foods are good for you. By implementing these 7 foods into your diet, you’ll treat your body right and whiten your teeth at the same time. A beautiful smile is just around the corner.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a veggie that requires a lot of chewing, which also naturally whitens your teeth. The longer you chew, the more saliva your mouth naturally produces. Both the chewability of this vegetable and the saliva all that chewing produces is great for your pearly whites!

Strawberries

Who doesn’t love a good strawberry? This is one case where feeding your sweet tooth is actually great for your teeth and your pearly white smile. Strawberries will actually whiten your teeth, believe it or not! They contain an enzyme called malic acid, which naturally whitens teeth. We recommend you even mash up strawberries and mash them on their teeth — leaving them on for a few minutes. Strawberries are a natural teeth whitening agent with amazing results!

Cheese

Milk is important for strong bones, and that includes your teeth. Dairy products contain lactic acid and calcium which work as natural teeth whitening agents and prevent tooth decay. One recent study in the journal Dentistry found that kids who regularly ate yogurt 4 times per week had substantially fewer cavities than kids who did not. Hard cheeses are especially great for teeth whitening, since the chewing removes food particles and the increased saliva serves as a bath for your teeth.

Baking Soda

Okay, it’s not exactly a food — but baking soda is a natural teeth whitening remedy. In fact, a 2008 study found that baking soda toothpastes did a significantly better job at removing plaque than toothpastes without the substance. We’d recommend always choosing a baking soda enhanced toothpaste. It’s also a good idea to brush with the stuff straight out of the box.

Apples

It’s true — an apple a day keeps the plaque grime away. Apples require a lot of chewing, which is great for teeth whitening. The natural scrubbing action washes away food particles so your teeth are whiter. Apples also contain a high concentration of malic acid, which naturally cleans the teeth and prevents bad breath. They also increase saliva production, which acts as a self-cleaning agent. And they taste pretty good too!

Oranges and Pineapples

Tart fruit like oranges and pineapples cause your mouth to produce more saliva, which acts as a leaning agent on the teeth. Avoid placing lemons directly on the teeth, however. Lemons are high in acidity which will wear away your enamel.

Black & Green Tea

Unlike coffee, tea can actually help fight teeth stains. Both black and green tea contain fluoride and polyphenols, which naturally whiten the teeth and decrease the presence and concentration of harmful oral bacteria.