Natural Foods For A Whiter, Brighter Smile

A simple search on the Internet reaps page after page of results on diets from weight loss and muscle building to even body firming. There is a particular diet, however, that has been kept under wraps for too long: the teeth-whitening diet.

You don’t necessarily have to feel the pinch from spending hundreds of dollars on teeth-whitening kits nor thousands on dental bleaching procedures. Oh yes, believe it or not, there are several better, more economical solutions to ridding stains and getting healthier and whiter teeth. Likewise, you might actually be surprised to know that these magical fixes have always been in our homes and right under our clueless noses.

Like they say, mother knows best. Mother Nature, that is. Natural teeth-whiteners are aplenty. In fact, they can be easily found at our nearest farmers’ market and practically any supermarket in our city. Unfortunately, not many are aware of what they can actually do for us. So, the next time you consider spending your paycheck on a teeth-whitening product or service, which may not even guarantee long lasting results, we suggest scrapping that thought. Instead, try these wonders of nature and see exactly what they can do for you.

Crunchy fruits and vegetables

Yes, you read it right – crunchy. The crunchy nature of fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apples and celery stimulates the production of saliva in our mouths. While the saliva acts as a natural cleanser, chewing and crunching on these fruits and vegetables causes them to scrub against the surface of our teeth and remove the buildup of plaque.

Strawberries

Take a mouthful of, let’s say, blueberries and you’ll find your teeth stained purple-blue. Doing quite the opposite, strawberries work like miracle teeth whiteners. Okay, so they may make your teeth slightly red, but once you wash it off, you’ll notice a small improvement in the colour of your teeth. Mash a mix of strawberries with some baking soda, rub the mixture on your teeth, leave it for 5 minutes, and voila! Keeping up this routine over a couple of days every week will whiten your teeth significantly after a few months.

Broccoli

What’s better than finding a solution? You guessed it – prevention. Not only is broccoli rich in iron and antioxidants, it also forms an acid-resistant film that protects the enamel of your teeth. This protective film prevents acid from damaging your teeth and shields your pearly whites from possible discolouration caused by the food and beverages we consume everyday.

Lemon

When we think lemons, we’d usually think acidity, which is the reason why proper care and control is required when using lemon juice to whiten our teeth. Too much of a good thing can be bad, and in this case, overdoing the acid can damage the enamel of our teeth and increase its sensitivity to the hot and cold stuff we put in our mouth. When done right, however, the results can be amazing. Simply stir in a pinch of salt or baking soda to a teaspoon of lemon juice and apply the paste onto your teeth. Leave it on for only a short while and remember to rinse thoroughly after that.

Pineapples

Pineapples contain an enzyme known as bromelain, which works great as yet another natural stain remover. Bromelain helps in breaking up the accumulated plaque, getting rid of acid-producing bacteria that might potentially erode the enamel of our teeth and lead to the onset of dental caries.

As you can see, getting whiter teeth for a brighter smile doesn’t have to cost you a bomb. Restoring the shine to your teeth is now just a supermarket trip away. What are you waiting for? It’s time to stock up on only what’s best for a happier, more beautiful you.