The options for whitening your teeth and achieving a brighter smile are endless. You can use over-the-counter strips located at your neighbourhood market or even have your teeth professionally whitened at our office with Zoom!. If your teeth are already stained, consider professional teeth whitening to give them a boost.
To learn more about Zoom!, call our Docklands dental office today at (03) 9021-9487 to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
Did you know there are foods you can eat to help whiten your teeth, minimize tooth decay, and combat plaque build-up? I’m sure you’ve heard a dentist mention foods that you should avoid (red wine, dark berries, coffee, and tea), but have you ever had a dentist recommend foods to eat in order to brighten your smile?
There are foods, most likely in your kitchen right now, that can help protect your smile. The key is choosing foods that are not only healthy but also work to clean your teeth as you eat, which leads to a whiter smile.
Below are four of our favourite foods (some may surprise you) that will help brighten your smile:
- Strawberries
Strawberries contain an enzyme known as malic acid, which acts as a natural astringent to remove discoloration and whiten your teeth. Try mashing up some strawberries, mixing them with baking soda to create a paste, then rubbing the paste over your teeth. Let the paste sit for five minutes, then rinse with water and brush and floss afterwards. Whether you create a paste, eat them in a salad, desert, or by themselves, you will notice a whiter smile.
- Cauliflower and Broccoli
Next time you serve cauliflower or broccoli for dinner, try eating the crispy florets raw rather than steaming or sautéing. As you chew these raw nutritional vegetables, your mouth will begin to produce more saliva. The increase of saliva mixed with the firmness of the vegetables will act as a toothbrush to naturally cleanse your teeth. These vegetables can also minimize gum inflammation and naturally coat your tooth enamel, which will minimize dental staining and erosion.
- Apples and Celery
Biting into an apple or a piece of celery can actually clean and whiten your teeth, as well as strengthen your gums. As we’ve already mentioned above, the increase in saliva production from chewing on these healthy foods washes away bacteria and food particles to minimize tooth discoloration. The killing of bacteria also provides another added benefit: fresh breath.
- Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt
You may have grown up hearing how important it was to drink milk for strong bones. But did you know milk can also whiten your smile? The lactic acid found in cheese, milk, and yogurt can protect against enamel erosion, while whitening and preventing tooth decay. Eating hard cheese can also remove food, bacteria, and plaque build-up, minimizing any dental stains. Chewing on hard cheese also increases saliva production, neutralizing acids in the mouth while washing away food-staining particles.
Bonus Tip: Drink Water
Water keeps you hydrated, your breath fresh, and your smile bright.
To learn more about other ways to whiten your teeth or schedule a dental exam, contact our Docklands dental office today at (03) 9021-9487.