Foods that Brighten Tooth Enamel

In recent years the marketplace has seen a glut of over-the-counter teeth whitening products ranging from toothpaste options to whitening strips.  Dentists have risen to meet this demand with advanced whitening treatments of their own for conditions that aren’t treatable by over-the-counter methods, but did you know there are foods you can eat that will also help to whiten your teeth?  Good oral health starts with a good diet, and these foods can help serve both ends by whitening your teeth while strengthening your body. If you’re concerned about the harshness of many whitening treatments or want to try to avoid needing them at all, check out these foods.

A Surprising Number Of Fruits
Pretty much any fruit that contains malic acid, which includes strawberries, apples, pineapples, and lemons as well as most other citrus fruit.  These fruits have long been known to be an effective way to whiten your teeth, and some people have even been known to mash these fruits up and apply them to their teeth as a natural at-home whitening agent.  Pineapples are particularly useful thanks to the stain fighting substance bromelain that’s found in it. Additionally eating fruit helps to stimulate saliva production, the bodies natural defense against plaque.

An Unsurprising Number Of Vegetables
It isn’t news to anyone that vegetables are healthy for us, but it’s less well known that they’re excellent teeth whitening agents.  It all starts from the first bite when the naturally fibrous nature of most vegetables starts scrubbing away the plaque and tartar on our teeth, but that’s just the beginning.  Vegetables like Broccoli are high in iron, and carrots are a great source of vitamin A, both associated with healthy teeth and durable enamel.

It doesn’t stop with garden vegetables though.  Shiitake mushrooms, while not technically a vegetable, contain lenatin, a sugar that has been shown to inhibit the bacteria that create plaque.  If you like basil be sure to add it to your favorite meals as it straight-up kills the bacteria that cause cavities, and just about every member of the Allium Genus (Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Chives, Etc) contain substances that battle them as well.

Dairy Is For More Than Bones
This one probably doesn’t come as a surprise to anybody, but milk products of all kinds are great for protecting teeth and helping them grow strong. The high calcium content also helps fight tooth decay thanks to its high calcium content, and hard cheeses promote saliva production.

The world has always been known to be a natural pharmacy, even if that wisdom has gotten lost in today’s supermarket world, so don’t let these great aids to your dental health pass you by.  Through natural processes, simply nutrition, and side effects like saliva production you can make your twice yearly visits to your dentist an absolute breeze. Dr. Haysam Shabaan has been promoting healthy eating as an essential part of improving dental health and is proud to have been serving the Ottawa, Ontario area at the Kent Dental Clinic.  If it’s time for your dental check-up, pick up the phone and make an appointment today.