A bright, white smile is pleasant to the eyes and shows off careful attention to dental hygiene, but dull and discolored teeth can come from aging, medications and even your diet. Eating certain foods can stain your teeth, so knowing how to avoid these and making better choices can help you achieve a more beautiful smile.
Expert Insight
Finding the right combination of foods can help you to enhance the cleaning of your teeth, according to one American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry expert on the organization's website. "While daily home care and regular professional cleanings are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, certain foods can help remove stains from your teeth," says Dr. Marty Zase, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. "Foods such as apples, pears, celery, cauliflower and cucumbers produce saliva which combines with the foods' natural fibers to naturally clean teeth and remove bacteria."
Foods That Whiten
Certain foods are associated with tooth-whitening properties, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. One example is strawberries, which have natural tooth-whitening properties. Consuming raw vegetables also helps to remove stains from the teeth and reveal cleaner teeth. Some sample food substitutions for the white teeth diet include eating apple pie instead of cherry pie and garlic or oil sauce on pasta instead of marinara, according to YT Smile.
Foods That Stain
Following the white teeth diet involves staying away from foods known to discolor the teeth, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Examples include coffee, dark-colored sodas, red wine and blueberries. YT Smile recommends avoiding eating sticky foods such as cheese when drinking wine, which can lead to further staining. Smoking cigarettes also can contribute to teeth staining, according to "Reader's Digest."
Habits
The white teeth diet also emphasizes healthy habits that promote a whiter smile, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. These include chewing sugarless gum --- providing you do not have a jaw disorder, such as temporomandibular jaw disorder. Chewing gum stimulates your body to make extra saliva, which can clean the teeth. Drinking teeth-staining beverages out of straws also can help to keep the teeth whiter because the food dyes reach the throat, not the teeth. Another recommended habit is using baking soda to brush the teeth twice per month. This natural stain-fighter can remove buildup.
Solution
Sometimes you cannot avoid consuming a food known to cause tooth staining. When this is the case, be sure to brush your teeth after eating to keep the stain from setting in, according to "Reader's Digest." In a pinch, eating an apple also can help clean the teeth.
