Dentist Reveals Surprising Ways to Whiten Teeth with 6 Foods
Who doesn’t want to have a beautiful smile with pearly white teeth?
Plenty of ways to whiten teeth exist these days, but are they actually safe? That is the question…
Over the years, as I have learned more and more about clean eating, I have become increasingly aware of the dangerous toxins lurking not only in packaged foods, but also in cosmetics, skin care, hair care, house cleaning supplies…and even oral care. For example, I no longer use fluoride toothpaste because fluoride is a known neurotoxin (1). Fluoride has also been linked to thyroid problems, by the way (2). (Note: For the record, my favorite non-toxic natural toothpaste— which is not only free of fluoride but also free from the carrageenan and sulfites/ sulfates found in conventional toothpaste—is Redmond Earthpaste Cinnamon, in the photo to the left.)
Although I most certainly want a lovely white smile, I have become increasingly skeptical of the many ways to whiten teeth that are advertised these days, especially after learning that some teeth-whitening methods can damage enamel and lead to translucent teeth that end up looking grey/ blue in color. Not exactly what I want my teeth to look like!
In the past, if I thought my teeth needed a whitening boost I would just grab any over-the-counter, conventional teeth-whitening gel and not even think twice about the fact I could be damaging my teeth. But in the last few years my teeth-whitening “regimen” has consisted only of all-natural baking soda mixed in with my toxin-free toothpaste. This has actually done a pretty darn good job if I do say so myself! Other people must think so too because from time to time I am asked what I do to get my teeth so white.
From Black to White
Even more recently, I discovered the INCREDIBLE natural teeth whitening benefits of Activated Charcoal (in photo below.) This stuff is rather messy and I don’t advise wearing good clothes when you do it, but as far as natural ways to whiten teeth go, charcoal whitening might be the absolute very best method. Not only does it whiten and brighten, it also removes teeth stains when you brush it off.
For a while I was buying charcoal capsules, breaking them open and then dumping the contents onto my toothbrush. I find the jar of charcoal to be much more convenient and also more cost effective though.
A quick word of warning: it will temporarily turn your teeth an alarming black. But trust me, it works WONDERS. Just check out some of the reviews and before/ after photos on Amazon! In addition to the baking soda and toothpaste regimen, I do the charcoal teeth whitening once a week.
However, when I tell people about my natural teeth-whitening methods I can see their eyebrows raise in skepticism–as if I am not disclosing the whole teeth whitening “secret.” To be honest, I have been a bit mystified myself as to how my natural teeth-whitening regimen could be as effective as it has been, especially because I was certain some of the things I consume regularly, such as green tea and strawberries. would most definitely contribute to teeth yellowing. But, it turns out I have actually been on a “teeth whitening diet” all along and didn’t even know it!
Dentist Reveals Surprising Ways to Whiten Teeth with 6 Foods
Through a mutual friend, I was recently introduced to Kenneth B. Mak, DDS, who practices general and cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles. Dr. Mak not only has a passion for oral health, but also for clean eating. Since he is among the increasing number of dentists who endorse nutrition for healthy teeth, I was very excited to see if he might be able to contribute an article about natural oral health care for Clean Cuisine. When we were brainstorming ideas I asked if there were any foods that had teeth-whitening potential. His answer—which I was surprised by—was yes!
According to Dr. Mak, there are many nutritious foods that have teeth-whitening capabilities. So, if you are looking for the absolute safest and healthiest way to naturally whiten your teeth, adding the following 6 foods to your diet can help. Start with food #1 for immediate results…
1. Strawberries Although you certainly wouldn’t think a luscious red fruit that stains your clothes could help whiten your teeth, it turns out strawberries have amazing teeth-whitening potential. The malic acid in strawberries is a natural astringent that removes surface tooth discoloration. For instant teeth-whitening results, simply mash a whole strawberry and then rub it directly on your teeth with your fingertip for about a minute (supposedly Tyra Banks did this live on her show a while back). You will then want to rinse with filtered water and floss to remove seeds. Your teeth will be instantly whiter. Imagine that.
2. Raw Nuts & Seeds Raw nuts and seeds are already a darling of our anti-inflammatory Clean Cuisine nutrition program due to their super clean protein and unrefined source of good “whole” fats, but according to Dr, Mak, they also help whiten our teeth. Turns out, biting down on these lightly abrasive, solid foods rubs off plaque and stains from your teeth. If you haven’t already, be sure to add a serving of these enamel-friendly foods to your diet everyday.
3. Apples The old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away – may keep the whitening dentist away too. Apple’s high water content increases the production of saliva, diluting and neutralizing bacteria that can cause bad breath and plaque. As an added bonus, a crispy apple strengthens gums too.
4. Broccoli Okay, so this may not be sexiest food on the list for everyone, but leafy green lovers, you are in luck. The florets on the ends of the broccoli stalks act as a natural stand in for a toothbrush.
5. Oranges This tropical fruit contains citrus, which is a natural tooth-brightener / whitener. Although citrus is an acid that wears away tooth enamel if ingested in sizeable doses, eating “whole” oranges provides a gentle and safe way of getting the right dose of citrus to naturally brighten and whiten teeth without the risk of getting too much acid. For best results, Dr. Mak suggests swishing your mouth with some filtered water to dilute the acidity after your orange treat.
- Note: we suggest you avoid orange juice—not only will orange juice provide too much acid, it is not optimal for a number of other reasons. Click HERE to read more on why eating “whole” oranges is much healthier than drinking orange juice.
6. Green Tea This one totally shocked me! If you have our Clean Cuisine book then you know REAL green tea (sorry Lipton) is an important part of our overall anti-inflammatory nutrition program. We recommend green tea for so many reasons (you can read more about the benefits of green tea and how to make sure you are getting the real deal “good stuff” HERE), but teeth-whitening and oral health wasn’t one of them, until now! According to Dr. Mak, the catechins in green tea kill the bacteria in your mouth that turn sugar into sticky plaque that damage tooth enamel and stain teeth. Catechins also wipe out the bacteria that cause bad breath. Apparently, drinking green tea will have you looking better and smelling better too (wink).
So there you have it….attaining brighter, whiter teeth need not require nasty-tasting whitening gels or chemicals after all. You can simply eat your way to a more beautiful smile.
A Special Thank you Dr. Mak!!
We at Clean Cuisine want to extend a special thank you to Kenneth B. Mak, DDS for his contribution to this article and for his natural tips on safe ways to whiten teeth. Dr. Mak practices general and cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles along with Dr. Rodney Kleiger and Dr. Dennis DeMesa at MKD Dentistry. He is a frequent contributor to several online publications, where he’s able to express his passion for helping people make good decisions about their oral health and eating habits. For more information or to contact Dr. Mak, please visit http://www.MKDDentistry.com You can also connect with Dr. Mak on Google+.
Do You Have Any Natural Oral Health Tips or Questions for Dr. Mak? If So, Please Leave a Comment Below…
References:
1. Grandjean P, Landrigan PJ. “Neurobehavioral effects of developmental toxicity.” Lancet Neurol. 2014 Mar;13(3):330-8. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70278-3. Epub 2014 Feb 17.
2. Liu H, et al. “The effects and underlying mechanism of excessive iodine on the excessive fluoride-induced thyroid cytotoxicity.” Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014 Jul;38(1):332-40. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.06.008. Epub 2014 Jun 27.
WOW i NEVERTHOUGHT GREEN TEA COULD PROMOTE TEETH WHITENING.
It was quite informative how you said that citrus fruits like oranges have the right dose of citrus needed to gently, safely, and naturally whiten teeth. That’s good to know because I’m trying to figure out ways to whiten my teeth for the day of my brother’s wedding next month. I’m the maid of honor, and I want to look my best. Your article sounds great, but this time around, it might be a better idea to go to a dental professional first and have the job done at their office. Afterward, I’ll keep your tips in mind. Thanks.
I was so happy when I saw that apples are on this list. I love eating them and it is great that they can naturally help whiten my teeth. My sister’s wedding is coming up in a few months and I want to have a white smile for all of her photos. It does seem like I should try a combination of natural and man-made treatments for getting my smile whiter.
Thank you for your comment. Food for whitening, interesting perspective.
I have always wished to have a whiter smile. There were a lot of things that I did not know that I could do to create this. My husband and I will be sure to start eating those six foods that you suggested as well as just being more particular about our teeth cleaning in general.
I didn’t know there were so many natural whitening technics. Looks like I need to eat more strawberries and apples. This was very informative and the best part is all of these foods are good for you! I’m looking to start a diet and I can whiten my teeth at the same time!
I’ve been meaning to try activated charcoal because I’ve heard such good things about its effect on whitening teeth, but I’ve been on the fence. I’ll definitely have to get some now, thanks for sharing!
Oh Heather I really do think it has amazing whitening properties! Do let me know how it works out for you if you give it a try…
This is a truly amazing post on the natural alternative to whitening teeth.Will try out some of these great tips. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post!
I had no idea that an apple could actually help keep your teeth stay white — how interesting! Have you seen ads for that charcoal teeth whitener? I want to give that a try, but I think that I should stick to dentist recommended teeth whitening options. Thanks again for the post!
I never thought about oranges being a means to whiten your teeth! It makes sense that the citrus in oranges can have that effect. Whitening my teeth has always been an issue for me so I’ll have to give these a try in the next few weeks leading up to my dentist appointment. We recently moved to a new town and are trying out a new dentist. I’ll have to ask them about different options for my teeth, thank you for sharing!
Hi Ivy,
I am so thankful for this information. I found you by conducting a search for tooth whitening without carrageenan. My dentist had me use a popular product that was gluten free but I ended up with extreme gut pain over the week I put this on my teeth and had made no other dietary changes. I have celiac disease and am VERY careful about what I consume.
I did an internet search for the ingredients of the tooth whitening gel I was recommended and using but could not find the ingredients. As I dietitian I am use to calling companies for this information so called to ask if the gel contained carrageenan. I was transferred 3 times and the last I heard was they were going to call me back with the information but have not.
I have been on a plant base diet for 35 years and feel pretty embarrassed I allowed myself to use such an unnatural product. Thank you so much for this information and I will apply these food practices right away.
Hey Ivy, another thing you can add to the list is turmeric. Believe it or not it’s actually great for teeth whitening and quite a few people have had success using it.
Hi Sean! Oh WOW! I did not know that! I use a turmeric mask on my face (I mix it with yogurt and manuka honey) and I swear it brightens my skin, but I had no idea you could also use it on your teeth to whiten/ brighten them too. Thank you so much for sharing!
Ivy, great article. Healthy diet and foods that can scrape gum plague away is always good. Not to mention the vitamins. Well written.
I had no idea that broccoli could whiten your teeth. That is really cool! I have been looking for ways to whiten my teeth for a while now so I’ll have to keep these in mind. I’ll have to ask my dentist for other ways and see what results that I can get.
Wow, it is so cool that an apple a day can help improve your smile. I guess there is some truth to the statement that an apple and day keeps the dentist away. However, it seems like it would take a long time to really whiten your teeth. It might be faster to go see a cosmetic dentist.
Yeah! Foods like strawberries and apples are very helpful for our teeth to get a lovely white smile. You have well explained about various foods which are helpful for teeth whitening. Thank you!
Wow, this is very easy and best method to whiten teeth with these foods. It can save us from a lot of dental problems.
Great tips! Most of the people don’t know that strawberries cam whiten their teeth. I really appreciate your effort of sharing such an informative post with us. Great job!
Thank you Dr. Khan =)
Interesting!! You have shared great information about good oral health and whiten teeth. These natural home remedies are really helpful to get whiten teeth at home. Thanks and keep sharing with us.
Great ways to have a beautiful smile with pearly white teeth! These are excellent and safe methods to improve the appearance of teeth. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
Wow!! Nice post. Mostly people do not know that these foods could be so beneficial for teeth whitening. After going through this post, everyone will come to know how to whiten the teeth naturally with these safest and healthiest methods.
I love strawberries! Who knew that it could be essential to my dental care? I had always thought that fruit acid wasn’t something good for teeth. Well, I guess that strawberries aren’t truly acidic like oranges. I think I’m going to start increasing my intake of them.
People who have stained or yellow teeth should consider these tips. These are very effective suggestions to achieve a bright and healthy smile.
I love this advice. Food can whiten your teeth, who knew? It’s crazy to me that this is not common knowledge! Green tea is one of my favorite teas. I will be keeping this list around and making these foods a large part of my diet.
I’m glad that Dr. Mak was able to share these tips with us! I’m very surprised that foods can actually help whiten your teeth! I’m absolutely in LOVE with strawberries, so I’ll be adding a lot of those to my list! I was surprised that green tea was on the list. I haven’t had much experience with tea, but I sure will try it! Here’s to hoping for a brighter, whiter smile!
I had no idea that broccoli could help whiten your teeth! I love broccoli (though I may be the only person in the world who says that!). Like Irena, I wonder if I should see a cosmetic dentist for a professional whitening. I think after that, though, I could definitely use these foods to maintain my bright smile. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the information. I had no idea that these foods could be so awesome in whitening teeth. I especially like the idea of using strawberries; do they really work that quickly? It may be better me to just get mine professionally whitened, seeing as they’re pretty stained.
Strawberries, apples, and oranges are a regular part of my diet—I love them! I’ve been noticing that my teeth are getting more white, and it’s awesome! I’m not much of a tea drinker, so I’m not sure if I’ll try your green tea suggestion. Thanks for the other tips, though!
Alex Jennings |
Thank you so much for sharing Alex! So sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you—we were away for a week on a cruise and then I spent all last week trying to catch up but just now getting the all of the comments. Anyway, I thrilled to know you are noticing whiter teeth too =) Great “side benefit” to clean eating!