Secrets to Whiter Teeth: Tips to Brighten Your Smile

We all know that brushing your teeth twice a day is good, proper hygiene, but what if we could bump our “good and proper” to “excellent” and brush 17 times a day—without really brushing?

And what if this magic naturally whitened our teeth too?

We’d all sign up, right?

Here’s the thing: we can!

Of course, we still must keep up our twice daily brushing routine, but this additional, alternative brushing is actually quite simple and—for those of us who like to eat—fun!

Here’s how it works: the secret is in your garden, in your fridge, in the produce section of your favorite supermarket: raw fruits and veggies.

How Do Fruits and Veggies Help Whiten Teeth?

It’s the crunch factor that turns these healthy snacks into serious scrubbers for our teeth. All we have to do is munch throughout our days, and voila! Like magic, we are stripping away all those superficial stains that have piled up during our tea, coffee, and wine binging.

So, if you want to brighten up those pearly whites, start by perusing the market bins and barrels, and you’ll find your favorite, fresh, and natural toothbrushes: carrots, apples, cucumbers, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli.

These herbaceous plants are good for us, AND their abrasive surfaces wipe away stains and even polish our teeth as we eat. What a bargain.

Raw fruits and veggies are not only master brushers, but because they require vigorous chewing, they aid in stimulating saliva production. The more you salivate, the more you rinse your teeth. Brush and rinse, as you eat, in the comfort of the lunchroom. It’s that easy.

Super-Saliva Foods to Add to Your Diet

We cannot live on fruits and veggies alone of course, so what other foods help produce saliva? Which foods are experts in triggering mouth-pools of sloshing goodness that wash away bacteria and food debris? Look for foods with the following traits:

Spicy – That which sets your mouth on fire will also heat up your salivary skill set: cayenne pepper, fennel, ginger, cardamom.

Strong– Aged, sharp, intense, and hard cheeses are good for more than wining and dining: Gouda, Cheddar, Gorgonzola.

Bitter – Throw endive in your next salad.

Crunchy – Raw fruits and veggies seem to be popular around here.

Watery – Of course. Celery has an exceptionally high water content.

How to Remove Deep Stains

If you’re looking for more than a brush and rinse routine, the following edible stain removers can wipe out the toughest of discolorations with their malic acid superpowers. Malic Acid is an organic compound with many health benefits, but cleaning up stained teeth is one of its most popular. Added bonus: Malic acid stimulates saliva. More rinsing happening here.

For best results, eat slowly and enjoy strawberries, apples, nectarines, cherries, bananas, peaches, and lychee.

Another key player in the stain-removing department is Bromelain. This small but mighty compound is found only in pineapples and contains an enzyme that is used in stain-removing toothpastes to break up plaque and discoloration. If au naturel is more your style, skip your trip to the drug store for the best teeth whitening toothpaste and go straight to Hawaii. Or your local supermarket. And eat pineapple whenever you can.

So, whether you’re hoping to maintain your bright white smile or lighten it up a bit, a simple change in your diet could make all the difference. You may really be what you eat. And your teeth will tell the tale. Just ask the teeth whitening experts at Tonka Smiles!

And if you don’t have time to go the natural route, call us to inquire about our in-office teeth whitening procedure. Our specialists will get you in and out of the office in no time with a smile as bright as the summer sun!