4 Foods That Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

Our pearly whites are easily discolored, prone to yellowing over time even after using at-home whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, or professional dental whitening treatments. If you’re frustrated with this and looking for another way to maintain a perfectly white smile, it may be time to take a look at your weekly grocery list and update it.

By eliminating stain-causing foods like red wine, pasta sauce, and coffee, and adding in items like apples, oranges, lemons, cheeses, and celery, you can help keep your teeth whiter, naturally.

1. Apples  

When you bite into an apple, you get some serious crunch. Combine this with the fact that apples require quite a bit of chewing, and you get a natural abrasive scrubbing motion out of them. They also have a high concentration of malic acid [1], which is an organic compound that contributes to the sour taste you get when you bite into an apple. This increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which works to break down food debris and bacteria.

You could say that apples have a dual-action system for scrubbing away stains and cleansing the mouth. 

2. Strawberries

Similar to apples, strawberries also contain higher concentrations of malic acid, which will naturally help whiten your teeth and increase the production of saliva in your mouth. This helps fight against intrinsic stains that are caused by tooth decay, as the saliva will help cleanse and remove any bacteria or food debris.

This is also why apples and strawberries are often recommended to individuals who take medications that cause dry mouth, as these fruits can help combat this condition. While strawberries are darker in color, they won’t permanently stain your teeth; just make sure not to rub them directly on your teeth and wash them down with water. 

3. Celery

Celery is a very fibrous vegetable, belonging to the same family (Apiaceae) as carrots, parsley, and parsnips.

The crunchy stalk is low in calories, nutrient-dense, and can benefit you by preventing inflammation [2], and high blood pressure [3].

However, it is also fantastic for cleaning your teeth! It helps create extra saliva because of how much you need to chew it to break it down, preventing the development of plaque that would otherwise stain your teeth. 

4. Cheese

If you’re looking for a snack that will help protect your teeth, keep them strong, and prevent staining, grab yourself some cheese. Not only does cheese contain calcium, which is an enamel-fortifying mineral, but it contains phosphorus as well, which helps create energy, builds healthy bones, and helps you create new cells [4]. Finally, cheese also contains lactic acid, which prevents tooth decay and intrinsic staining.

If you enjoy hard cheeses, like Parmigiano-reggiano, Asiago, Grana Padano, or Pecorino Romano, then you’re in luck as these will boost your saliva production. 

If you are not partial to any of the above foods, but still want to alter your grocery list to make it more pearly-white-friendly, then consider adding in raisins, pineapples, papaya, milk, and broccoli. These items are either great at polishing your teeth, stimulating saliva production, or bringing down inflammation in the mouth.

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while or need to schedule a teeth whitening appointment contact us or give us a call at (813) 333-1922.