Milk and yogurt
These dairy products are teeth
superfoods. Their high calcium content strengthens teeth, making
enamel healthier and whiter, says Messina. But be warned: Not all
calcium-rich foods—like spinach with its dark, stain-causing
pigmentation—have the same effect. Chow down on a high-protein
Greek yogurt for a snack, or pair after-dinner cookies with a cold
glass of milk to get that gleam.
Strawberries
They may be bright red, but malic acid,
a chief component of this summery fruit, acts as a natural astringent
to remove surface tooth discoloration, says Dr. Irwin Smigel,
president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. Fresh, juicy
strawberries taste great in any meal—salads, desserts, cereal—and
are widely available at farmers markets this time of year, so getting
your daily dose is both simple and delicious.
Seeds and Nuts
Chewing these lightly abrasive, hard
foods rubs plaque and stains off the surface of teeth, says Dr.
Matthew Messina, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
Pop a few almonds for a mid-afternoon snack—they're full of
protein, healthy fats, and the crunch you need to get pearly whites.
Onions
Although they may not be the ideal
pre-date snack, the notoriously bad-for-breath alliums could be
beneficial to teeth. Because they're colorless, they won't cause
surface stains, says Messina, adding that after eating them you're
more likely to brush—which is a surefire way to get whiter teeth.
Apples
The loud crunch you hear when
you bite into this hard fruit may be annoying, but it's also good for
your choppers. Apples' crispiness strengthens gums, and their high
water content increases saliva production, dispersing and
neutralizing colonies of bacteria that lead to bad breath and plaque,
says Smigel.
Baking Soda
Take a toothpaste break and try
brushing with this common ingredient. Baking soda is a base, like
bleach, notes Messina, and the "soda"—which is actually a
form of salt—in this pantry staple is a mild abrasive that works to
scrub off plaque and surface stains.
Celery and Carrots
The same high water content that makes
these veggies great for your waistline and your health also helps
them whiten your teeth by stimulating saliva production, which aids
in washing away food debris and strengthening gums, according to
Smigel.
Broccoli
Unlike beets and cranberries, this
crunchy vegetable doesn't stay stuck to teeth, so it won't cause
unsightly surface stains, says Messina. Throw some raw broccoli into
your lunch—the florets will scrub the surface of teeth, giving them
a brief and natural midday brush.
Cheese
Hard cheese, like the little blocks you
get on those delicious appetizer trays, is full of calcium, which
strengthens teeth and gums, explains Smigel. Plus, most cheeses are
near colorless, meaning they won't stain your teeth. So go ahead,
order that cheese plate.
Oranges
This bright fruit contains citrus, an
acid that can wear away tooth enamel if ingested in large doses,
making teeth whiter—but at a cost, says Messina. So while we don't
recommend gulping down bags of oranges in the spirit of a bright
smile, a juicy helping once in a while is good for your pearly
whites, and thanks to loads of vitamin C, your overall health too.
Water
Drink lots of water to keep your mouth
hydrated and your smile bright, advises Smigel, who recommends
sipping and swishing between glasses of wine and when eating dark,
pigmented foods to prevent staining. However, while water reduces the
acidity in your mouth and the resulting damage to your enamel, Dr.
Smigel warns against imbibing too much sparkling water, which has
greater potential to erode enamel and harm teeth.
Pears
Smigel recommends munching on a pear to
neutralize pesky odor-causing and staining bacteria colonies on
teeth. Increased saliva production brought on by this sweet,
delicious fruit also washes away food debris, leaving teeth clean and
sparkling.
Source: Internet
