Eating a healthy, balanced diet helps maintain strong teeth and gums, but some foods also boast teeth whitening properties. If you’ve been looking for ways to brighten your smile, choosing your food wisely is a great place to start. Here are a few foods to add to your diet to help get rid of dental discoloration and clean your teeth.

A Guide to Foods That Help Whiten Teeth

1. Dairy Products

Milk is known to contain calcium and vitamin D, two essential nutrients for healthy bones. However, that’s not all it can do for your teeth; dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt also contain lactic acid, a natural teeth whitener that may also help increase saliva production. Saliva washes away food debris and harmful acids to keep your teeth clean and healthy. 

A protein found in milk called casein may also provide teeth whitening benefits. In a 2014 study, adding milk to tea significantly reduced staining, where casein was determined to be responsible for this result. 

2. Crunchy Fruits & Veggies

Some of the best foods for increasing saliva production are crunchy fruits and vegetables. Chewing stimulates your salivary glands, so the more you need to chew, the more the saliva will flow. Eat apples, carrots, celery, and other healthy options every day; their fibrous texture might also help scrub teeth clean.

3. Strawberries & Watermelon

Both strawberries and watermelon contain high amounts of malic acid, which is thought to be a natural whitening agent. This compound gives food a tart taste and is used in many commercial teeth whitening products. Malic acid is also used to treat dry mouth, as it stimulates the production of saliva.

4. Pineapples, Oranges, and Papaya

Pineapples, oranges, and papaya contain proteolytic ennzymes—bromelain in oranges and pineapples and papain in papaya. These enzymes break down the pellicle on your teeth, the salivary proteins that absorb pigments from food. They remove superficial stains and help decrease plaque buildup.

When you need professional teeth whitening solutions, turn to The Montana Center for Laser Dentistry PLLC. With convenient locations in Whitefish and Kalispell, MT, this practice offers general and cosmetic dentistry solutions aimed at keeping your teeth strong, healthy, and clean. They provide an advanced and innovative approach to dental care with laser technology to ensure a more comfortable experience. To schedule an appointment with a friendly dentist, call (406) 862-1010 for their Whitefish office or (406) 730-1010 to reach the Kalispell location. Visit them online to learn more about their services.