Just about everyone would take whiter teeth if they could get them. Just how easy is it to get whiter teeth at home? If you’re looking for options for whiter teeth that don’t involve seeing a dentist in Chaparral, here’s a breakdown of the benefits (or not) of some popular options.
Will eating fruits and vegetables give you whiter teeth?
At the risk of sounding like we’re ducking the question, the answer to this one is a clear “maybe and kinda.” Eating fruits and vegetables is absolutely essential to your general health and the nutrients in both fruits and vegetables can keep your gums healthier and deter the development of oral bacteria. Antioxidants, folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin B are all present in fruits and vegetables and will all keep your mouth healthier. But what about whiter teeth?
Healthier teeth are whiter than unhealthy teeth. Healthy gums mean the absence of infection which also means whiter teeth and healthier gums. So eating fruits and vegetables will help keep your teeth white along with keeping your mouth healthier. But there’s no convincing research that a diet high in fruits and vegetables will turn yellowed and stained teeth whiter.
Not even pineapples, strawberries and apples?
Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain. That enzyme is an ingredient in some toothpastes that have been shown to have better whitening effects than toothpaste without bromelain. So does that mean you should eat lots and lots of pineapple to get whiter teeth? No. Bromelain is helpful for whitening, but there’s no evidence that eating lots of pineapples generally will help. In fact, the acidity in pineapples can damage your enamel and make your teeth more vulnerable to cavities. Loss of enamel will also gradually expose the dentin layer in your tooth — and dentin is yellow!
Some people believe that the malic acid contained in strawberries will whiten your teeth, especially when strawberries are combined with baking soda. A 2014 study by researchers at the University of Iowa debunked that theory. Researchers found that the combination of strawberry and baking soda did help remove food particles and plaque — just like normal tooth brushing — but the strawberry/soda concoction didn’t penetrate or remove stains on teeth. In fact, just like pineapple, the acid in the strawberries posed a risk to tooth enamel.
A similar study into the effects of eating apples — that also contain malic acid — found that doing so had an even smaller whitening effect. Having said that, eating apples is good for you and even good for your teeth. Eating them helps to remove plaque, but be sure to brush your teeth after doing so to remove potentially harmful acid.
Does apple cider vinegar whiten your teeth?
Apple cider vinegar — and particularly its main ingredient, acetic acid — has been a tried and true cleaner and disinfectant for hundreds of years. When it comes to teeth, that acetic acid can kill bacteria and remove plaque. Those are both good things, and at least one research paper has found vinegary can have some whitening effect on teeth. The problem, though, is that the acetic vinegar can also harm your teeth by eroding your enamel and softening the tissues of your teeth.
How about baking soda and hydrogen peroxide?
This is a bit of a trick question. After all, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are two primary ingredients in standard toothpaste, whitening toothpastes, and even whitening solutions your dentist will use. So, yes, both ingredients can contribute to whiter teeth. You can brush your teeth with a paste made of water and baking soda a couple times a week (any more will harm the enamel). But why not just use regular toothpaste so you don’t have to worry about damaging your teeth? Rinsing or swishing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide might help rinse your teeth, but the whitening effect will be minimal considering how little time it will be in contact with your teeth. Used too often or at too high a concentration, it will even damage your teeth. If you want the whitening effects of hydrogen peroxide, your best option is to get teeth whitening in Chaparral from a dentist.
If you want whiter teeth quickly and safely, our best advice is to avoid the risks of home remedies and to contact a dentist near you and ask about their options for teeth whitening in Chaparral. Getting teeth whitening near you is easy and quick, and more effective than binging on pineapples and safer and more effective than over-gargling with hydrogen peroxide.