Yes, you read the title correctly, and I was in disbelief also when I started reading about natural organic ways to whiten your teeth. I found that I could do so, and was already doing so eating come of my favorite foods.
In learning about what foods help whiten teeth, I came across a number of foods and learned how they each help in this process. The following foods or ingredients made the list, in no specific order.
1. Plain Yogurt
2. Apples
3. Carrots
4. Cheese
5. Milk
6. Celery
7. Strawberries
8. Xyliotl-Sweetened Gum
9. Oranges
10. Pineapple
11. Baking Soda
12. Strawberries
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt contain lactic acid, which is known to help protect teeth from decay. The proteins in yogurt may actually bind to your teeth and help prevent them from attack by harmful acids, which cause cavities. As far as cheese and whitening, the harder cheeses are best, since they also help remove food particles from your teeth. Hard cheeses are best for whitening, since they help remove food particles as well.
I was happy to see a good amount of fruit's help whiten teeth, being celiac, and someone who isn't fond of meat, my diet consists mainly of fruits and vegetables. I was most surprised to learn about strawberries, they may stain our clothes, but they contain an enzyme called malic acid which helps in the whitening process. The malic acid works as a natural astringent to remove surface discoloration .Other fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apples, and celery may aid in killing bacteria, and due to their crunch also help scrub teeth clean. On top of that added bonus, they also act like natural stain removers by increasing saliva production, thus serving as the mouth's self-cleaning agent. Fibrous veggies are not only low in calories and nutrient-rich, the chewy foods also aid in helping keep teeth white and gum tissue healthy. Pineapple and oranges also aid in naturally cleaning the teeth, this is due to the extra saliva produced from these sweet treats.
Baking soda was no surprise, I can remember seeing advertisements as a child for brushing with baking soda for a sparkling smile! It's suggested that brushing with a toothpaste containing baking soda may do a better job in removing plaque.
Xyliotl-Sweetened Gum is technically not a food, but chewing gum, much like pineapple and oranges, creates more saliva. Yes, sweetened, the sugar will do two things. First, it will actually help avoid plaque promoting sugars. Second the sugar alcohol has been shown to reduce the formation of plaque which in turn makes it harder for stains to stick to your teeth. A more powerful flavor will help produce more saliva than sweeter fruity options.
Happy eating! and whitening!