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  • Foods that Actually Make Teeth Whiter

  • Posted by Sarah on August 2, 2011 at 05:19PM
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  • I thought I had a pretty good handle on this whole teeth-whitening thing. I wrote about the best and worst teeth whiteners here, and I know which foods and drinks are extra stain-inducing (coffee, soda, red wine -- aka all the drinks I love most). But now I'm learning that there are foods you can eat that not only won't stain your teeth, they'll actually make them whiter! Um, can you say, "excited?"

  • Dr. Timothy Chase, a cosmetic dentist at SmilesNY in New York City assures me it's true. "Professional dentistry works the best, however, certain fruits and vegetables can aid in the quest for white teeth."

  • In case you needed more motivation to start chowing down on the foods he recommends, Chase says, "a healthy smile, white teeth, and healthy gums can take 10 years off your appearance."

  • OK, I won't make you wait any longer. Here's Chase's list of the top teeth-whitening foods.

  • Group 1: The crunchies

  • "Certain foods help to remove bacteria that cause plaque, which hardens into a yellowish tartar if not brushed away soon enough. Crunchy fruits and vegetables work best because they function as an abrasive scrub for your teeth. They also stimulate the production of saliva, which helps to keep plaque from forming," Chase says.

  • Add these to your grocery shopping list:

  • • Apples

  • • Cauliflower

  • • Carrots

  • • Celery

  • Group 2: The polishers

  • • "Strawberries and oranges are both useful for polishing teeth. Rubbing an orange peel or a strawberry over your teeth, followed by washing out your mouth with water, will get you noticeably whiter teeth after a few months," Chase says.

  • • "Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese contain lactic acid, which may help protect teeth against decay. Hard cheeses are best for whitening because they help remove food particles as well."

  • What do you think? Will you be adding any of these foods to your diet? If you ask me, it's easier than a month's worth of whitening trays!

  • Next: Tips to make your white teeth (and other beauty treatments) last way longer than usual.

  • Member Comments

    Your Comment:

    • Not to sure about the dairy part, but I have heard that strawberry are good for your teeth.

      by PorcelainHeart Friday, August 5, 2011 at 11:29PM Report as inappropriate

    • Very informative article. I'm going to try this.

      by Linda2000 Friday, August 5, 2011 at 05:52PM Report as inappropriate

    • i didn't know about "the polishers"... pretty interesting :)

      by martha85 Friday, August 5, 2011 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

    • Right on, thank you! that was a great article.

      by MissPurple Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 03:31PM Report as inappropriate

    • Helpful article. I did wonder if cheese helped because I noticed my teeth looked whiter after eating it consistently. I've also read that balsamic dressing can stain your teeth too. Good to know both: what makes it worse and what can help.

      by StarsthatBind Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 09:34AM Report as inappropriate

    • Find this very interesting. Never realized foods could help...know many that hurt such as tea and coffee...

      by Dakotah Monday, August 1, 2011 at 06:10PM Report as inappropriate

    • Well, now I know why growing up in the Midwest eating a steady diet of dairy products helped my teeth be strong & white!

      by leftyonkey Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 03:29PM Report as inappropriate

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