DIY Teeth Whitening: 7 Foods That Actually Help

We all know that certain foods and drinks can stain teeth. But, did you know that there are some foods which actually help to keep your teeth white?

How’s that for DIY teeth whitening, courtesy of Mother Nature herself?!

Thanks to the natural properties of certain foods, eating them regularly can make your teeth stronger, more resistant to bacteria and stains, and keep them whiter for longer.

Some of these foods also work to remove stains if you rub them directly onto your teeth.

And, if you’ve recently whitened your teeth then it’s important to know what foods can help your teeth to maintain their new whiteness, as well as which foods to avoid.

Keep reading to find out the foods which can help keep your teeth shining bright.

Foods to Eat For DIY Teeth Whitening

Whether you want to maintain the whiteness of your teeth, or if you’re in the process of whitening them with crest white strips, you’ll know to avoid things like red wine, coffee, and dark chocolate.

That’s because those foods and drinks will cause stains and can reduce the effectiveness of DIY teeth whitening. However, there are some foods you definitely shouldn’t avoid if you want your teeth to stay white.

Here we reveal which foods you need to add to your grocery list to maintain your gleaming smile for longer.

1. Apples

An apple a day can keep the dentist away as well as the doctor.

Thanks to their natural crunchiness, apples require a lot of chewing to eat. This in turn encourages the production of saliva, which helps to wash away the bacteria in your mouth

The action of biting into an apple also scrubs your teeth, removing particles that can lead to plaque and tooth decay.

In addition, apples contain a high concentration of malic acid, a substance used in some toothpastes. The malic acid helps to clean your teeth and remove stains, making apples a winner when it comes to DIY teeth whitening.

2. Oranges

Because of the tartness of oranges, biting into the fruit causes your mouth to produce more saliva. This saliva then serves as a natural cleaning agent for your teeth.

But don’t throw the orange peel away when you’re done eating! The skin is high in vitamin C, which can aid the process of DIY teeth whitening.

Make sure to thoroughly wash the orange peel, and then rub the inner white side against your teeth to fight against plaque and tartar.

3. Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese

These dairy products help to keep your teeth strong and sparkling in a variety of ways.

The combination of lactic acid and bone-strengthening calcium in cheese, yogurt and milk helps to fortify tooth enamel, while protecting against tooth decay and keeping teeth white.

It’s also thought that various protein compounds in dairy, such as casein, bind to tooth enamel as a way to protect against harmful cavity-causing acids.

And finally, it was found that eating cheese increases saliva production in the mouth, which helps to wash away the food particles that can lead to staining.

4. Strawberries

Although berries such as blackberries and blueberries are two of the top foods to avoid after DIY teeth whitening, strawberries actually help to whiten teeth.

Like apples, strawberries contain malic acid, which can keep teeth white. But strawberries also have the added benefit of ellagitannins. These are powerful antioxidants which fight against the plaque and bacteria that can lead to stains.

And, the vitamin C in strawberries can help the process of DIY teeth whitening when they’re applied directly to your teeth. Mash up some strawberries with baking soda and rub the mixture on your teeth for a brighter smile.

But remember to brush your teeth afterwards as strawberries also contain a lot of sugar.

5. Celery and Carrots

If you prefer your veggies cooked then you’re out of luck. It’s the crunchiness of celery and carrots when eaten raw which helps with teeth whitening.

Munching on raw celery and carrots scrubs your teeth as you bite into them. And, as these vegetables take a lot of chewing to eat, your mouth produces more saliva, cleaning away bacteria from your mouth in the process.

In addition, the high-water content in carrots and celery washes away food particles to help strengthen gums and whiten teeth.

You can also rub chopped carrots against your teeth as a way to remove stains and keep your smile sparkling.

6. Pineapple

Like strawberries and oranges, the vitamin C in pineapple helps to remove the stains that can tarnish whitened teeth.

The juicy tartness of pineapple also encourages saliva production, which helps to wash away bacteria.

However, what makes pineapple particularly special as an aid to DIY teeth whitening is that it is the only food which naturally contains bromelain.

As well as being an anti-inflammatory compound, bromelain also has cleansing properties. In fact, a 2010 study found that bromelain was highly effective when used as an ingredient in a stain-removing toothpaste.

7. Broccoli

As with carrots and celery, eating broccoli raw can help to strengthen and whiten teeth.

Biting into raw broccoli scrubs your teeth clean and also helps your mouth to produce more saliva, cleansing the mouth of bacteria.

In addition, the iron found in broccoli helps to prevent staining and cavities. This is because the iron provides a wall of protection for the enamel coating on your teeth, protecting it against acids produced by bacteria in your mouth.

Maintain Whitened Teeth for Longer

Although these foods aren’t as effective at whitening teeth as professional products such as whitening strips and dental whitening services, they are all natural and easily available.

If you’re in the process of DIY teeth whitening, eating these foods can help to strengthen your teeth and avoid staining.

And, once the teeth whitening is complete, these foods will also help to keep your teeth whiter for longer.

That’s definitely something to smile about!

Are you interested in achieving whitening your teeth with the world’s best-selling teeth whitening kit? To find out more about our products, Euro White Products Category Page or contact us today.