When it comes to teeth whitening, many people talk about foods that cause decay and yellowing of the teeth. They tend to promote teeth whitening kits and chemicals, instead of thinking about foods that could naturally whiten your teeth. However, certain foods have significant properties that can whiten your teeth, freshen your breath and improve your oral health. Including these foods in your diet can give you a brighter smile and protect your teeth against decay. Here are the top 7 best foods for natural teeth whitening, and better oral health.

Celery

Celery is one of the best foods you can add to your diet to improve your overall health, but it is particularly good for your teeth. Because celery is so crunchy, it gives your teeth a great workout and can stimulate the gums, allowing plaque to be removed from the surface of your teeth. Chewing crunchy foods like celery is also a great way to increase saliva in your mouth, which fights against gum disease. Celery also has a high quantity of water, so it acts as a natural tooth cleaner. You should definitely start snacking on celery if you want to naturally whiten your smile!

Strawberries

Strawberries are a great food to eat if you want to prevent yellowing and decay. Not only are they delicious, but they are also a superfood that has multiple health benefits. One of the best benefits of strawberries is that they can whiten your teeth naturally. They contain high concentrations of malic acid, which helps remove surface-level discolouration on your teeth. Strawberries also contain lots of Vitamin C, which is great for strengthening your bones and teeth, and protecting against decay. However, it’s important to know that strawberries also contain citric acid which can be erosive to the teeth, so take care to brush your teeth 30 minutes after eating them.

Cheese

Yellowing of the teeth can be caused when the natural enamel on your teeth is eroded - enamel can disappear due to acidic and sugary foods. The more your teeth are exposed to these ingredients, they decay and start to yellow. However, cheese contains a high content of calcium, which strengthens your teeth and bones, keeping them white and healthy. Furthermore, cheese contains a protein called casein, which is great for repairing the natural enamel on your teeth. Adding cheese to your diet could massively improve the health of your teeth, just make sure you’re not eating processed cheeses, as they contain high amounts of sugar.

Leafy Greens

The texture of leafy greens means they are fantastic for natural tooth cleaning, as they stimulate your gums and can remove sugar that could be sitting on your teeth. However, leafy greens such as kale, lettuce and spinach are high in lots of vitamins and minerals. In particular, leafy greens are high in B9, which promotes cell growth and repair. This means they improve the enamel repair on your teeth, which helps to remove yellowing. When your teeth are resilient to bacteria, they stay white for longer.

Carrots

Carrots naturally break apart plaque, because they are an abrasive, crunchy food. Crunchy foods such as carrots are great for your oral health because they stimulate the gums and act as a natural toothbrush. Carrots have also been linked to improved bone health, which means if you eat a lot of carrots, your teeth will strengthen as well as your bones. Many dentists recommend eating carrots in order to strengthen your gums, naturally clean your teeth and consume nutrients that are amazing for your oral health. Carrots contain phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, biotin and calcium, which are all essential for having great teeth - make sure you’re eating raw carrots as well as cooked.

Water

If you drink a lot of water, it is proven that you will have better teeth than someone who doesn’t drink water regularly. When you drink water after eating food, you will be flushing away the residue from the food or drink. This is particularly useful after sugary foods, because sugar sits on your teeth and causes yellowing and decay. Drinking water also promotes saliva production, which is essential for fighting gum disease and other dental issues. Furthermore, a lot of tap water is treated with fluoride, which helps to strengthen and protect the teeth and fight against yellowing.

Apples

An apple a day keeps the dentist away! Because apples are very crunchy, they can scrub away bacteria and plaque that cause yellow teeth. They are also high in a lot of vitamins that can strengthen teeth, protecting them against decay. Dental researchers on teeth whitening in Solihull have found that people who eat more apples need fewer teeth whitening treatments later on in life. Apples should definitely be your number-one snack food if you want to whiten your teeth naturally.

There are many ways you can naturally whiten your teeth through your diet and improve your oral health - add them to your diet if you want a bright smile!