You read the heading correctly, there are foods that can remove stains and keep our teeth looking bright.
Teeth whitening foods:
- Apples, celery and carrots increase saliva production, which is the mouth’s own cleaning agent. Their crunchy texture also scrubs teeth clean.
- Oranges and pineapples have acidic juices that act like a mouthwash. These fruits also stimulate saliva production.
- Lactic acid in dairy products protects teeth from decay, which can cause discoloration in teeth. Proteins in yogurt protect teeth from acids that cause cavities. Hard cheeses remove stray food particles in the mouth, which prevents the buildup of plaque that can lead to tooth decay.
- Strawberries contain malic acid that whitens teeth. Crush strawberries into a paste for a DIY home teeth whitening solution. Leave the paste on your teeth for five minutes before rinsing it off and then brushing and flossing as usual.
- The texture of seeds and nuts can exfoliate your teeth.
- Broccoli and other high fiber, coarse foods act as a scrubbing agent.
Foods to avoid (foods that stain your teeth):
- Tea
- Coffee
- Wine
- Sodas
- Curry sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Berries
- Balsamic vinegar
Although some foods really do whiten your teeth, they will only whiten and remove stains on the surface of the tooth. This is called extrinsic whitening and focuses on stain removal caused by the above foods and drinks. Discolouration that is caused by infection or that is the result of disease, genetics or the aging process can not be removed by extrinsic whitening.
To alleviate this type of discoloration, you will need to undergo an intrinsic whitening treatment. The process aims to whiten the dentin in our teeth. Dentin is a layer of calcified tissue underneath our tooth enamel. Dentin is whitened by bleaching it with a specific gel. Most intrinsic procedures have to be administered at a dentist’s practice.
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