We’ve all been told to watch what we eat as part of protecting our teeth. Sugary and acidic foods are known to cause decay, while hard foods can be a danger to our teeth. There’s another point of consideration when choosing what to eat for healthy teeth. Are you aware there are certain foods that can actually help whiten your teeth as well as help protect against decay? As part of our dedication to patient education, Magnolia Dental is proud to provide this list of foods that actually help brighten your teeth!
Strawberries
We are told to avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and other brightly colored foods due to their tooth staining qualities. With so many nos, it’s a relief to learn that the plump, delicious, vibrantly red strawberry is a friend to your teeth! Strawberries contain malic acid, an enzyme that helps to break down staining proteins and brighten your teeth.
Celery, Apples, and Carrots
The texture is everything with these foods. In addition to stimulating saliva production that can help the mouth self-clean, their texture also acts as a scrubbing agent that removes plaque. As an added bonus, all of these foods can actually improve your breath by killing bacteria responsible for halitosis.
Pineapples and Oranges
While pineapples may come from bushes and oranges from trees, there is something they share in common. The tart citrus flavor of both these fruits stimulates saliva production, helping to wash the teeth clean. Take care with lemons, however. The acid they contain is significantly stronger than that of other citrus fruit and can cause your teeth harm when used directly on the teeth.
Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese
We all know that milk is important for getting Vitamin D and growing healthy bones, but did you know it can help your teeth as well? Research has shown that yogurt is a powerful agent for good dental health, with regular consumption resulting in less tooth decay. Hard cheeses are king when it comes to dental cleaning, as their texture acts as a scrubbing agent to eliminate plaque and tartar.
Baking Soda
Alright, you got us. This isn’t technically food, but it is a food adjacent product that has a remarkable effect on your teeth. This kitchen staple is found in many types of toothpaste due to its ability to whiten your teeth and aid in cleaning. Using it directly from the box can have a profound effect as well, but take care when doing this. The mildly abrasive nature is strongly accented when using it directly and can damage your teeth if care is not taken.
There you go, four food (and one food adjacent) products that can enhance the brightness of your teeth. This are just a little of the valuable information we at Magnolia Dental provide to our Covington, LA dental family as part of patient education. Dr. Ross Quartano knows that his dental family can’t take the best steps to protect their dental health and their smiles without knowing what they are. Come into our offices and learn more about preserving your teeth for a lifetime!
