How To Whiten Your Teeth Naturally with These foods

You are probably aware of certain beverages that stain your teeth, such as tea, coffee, and red wine. But you may not know that just as some foods and drinks cause dental stains, others help clean and whiten them naturally.
And there’s more good news – most of these teeth-whitening foods are Foundation Foods on the Save Our Bones Program, so they’re excellent for building bones, too.
Today you’ll learn about the bone-smart foods that naturally whiten your teeth, starting with one of my favorite snack foods…


1.Nuts And Seeds
All kinds of nuts can whiten teeth, because their abrasive texture helps scour away stains. They also stimulate teeth-cleaning saliva when you chew them. Some examples of bone-healthy nuts include


2.Broccoli And Celery
Fibrous raw vegetables like broccoli and celery “scrub” the teeth not unlike a scouring pad on a stained pot or pan. Interestingly enough, dark green, leafy vegetables like broccoli contain iron, which forms a sort of protective coating over teeth, shielding them from acid-containing foods that damage the enamel.
Broccoli is rich in calcium and Vitamin K, an often-overlooked vitamin that is essential for building strong bones and reversing bone loss. Celery is one of the most alkalizing foods in existence, and it also contains Vitamin K and is a good source of boron, several B vitamins, manganese, and Vitamin C.


3.Strawberries
Strawberries are not only delicious; they contain many bone-smart nutrients, such as Vitamin C, manganese, and antioxidants, and they help whiten teeth. These delicious summer berries contain malic acid, which is an astringent substance that helps break down the stains on your teeth.
In fact, you can make a berry-flavored toothpaste with mashed strawberries and baking soda. (This toothpaste should be used only now and then; it’s not meant as a replacement for your regular toothpaste.)
Research shows that strawberries may also be an effective weapon against esophageal cancer, which is great news for those who suffer reflux, GERD, and other upper GI problems that can develop from taking osteoporosis drugs.


4.Apples
Apples have long been called “nature’s toothbrush,” and for good reason. They have a crisp texture and firm skin that scrape away plaque and the bacteria that cause it. Apples’ tangy flavor combines with the texture to stimulate saliva production, and saliva is your mouth’s own natural defense against decay and staining.
Apples are also bone-builders. In addition to their Vitamin C and silicon content, apples contain a polyphenol called phloridzin that has been shown to decrease inflammation and increase bone density.


5.Mushrooms
A delicious source of copper, zinc, Vitamin B5, selenium, riboflavin, and potassium,mushrooms are excellent for bone health. All varieties of edible mushrooms are bone-healthy, but shitake mushrooms have a special affinity for promoting white teeth. That’s because shitakes contain lentinan, a cancer-fighting polysaccharide that also inhibits cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.


6.Pineapple
With their exceptional Vitamin C content (as well as manganese, copper, and vitamins B6, B1, and folate), pineapples offer excellent support for building bones. With their sweet flavor and juicy texture, they taste almost like a naughty treat!
There’s another important nutrient in pineapples that is good for bones and teeth: bromelain. It’s actually a collection of enzymes rather than one nutrient, and they all help to digest and break down proteins. Bromelain can also help remove stains on teeth, as the following study shows.
Scientists analyzed the enamel on 24 human molars with 12 of the teeth acting as controls. They applied a dentifrice containing bromelain, and the researchers observed significantly better stain removal with the bromelain-containing toothpaste in comparison to the bromelain-free toothpaste.2 So go ahead and sink your teeth into a juicy slice of pineapple!


7.Citrus Fruits
It might surprise you to learn that citrus fruits are alkalizing. Despite their high acid content, citrus fruits alkalize the body, and they contain large amounts of Vitamin C. In fact, the sweet-tart, acidic flavor of citrus induces saliva production, and the acids themselves help whiten teeth.
Citrus fruits help bones in other ways, too. They contain a specific bioflavonoid called hesperidin, which acts as an antioxidant and works synergistically with Vitamin C. This kind of synergy among nutrients occurs in many foods – another reason why whole foods are an effective way to obtain bone-building nutrients.


8.Raisins
Raisins make a delicious and convenient snack, and can be added to all sorts of dishes to enhance flavor and give your bones a nutrient boost…and help whiten teeth.
These sweet dried fruits not only offer boron and silicon, but they also contain oleanolic acid, which, according to a University of Illinois study, inhibits the growth of decay-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Specifically, the study found that the oleanolic acid in raisins inhibits Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, which cause cavities and gum disease, respectively. This interesting acid also helps whiten teeth by preventing the bacterial adherence that’s crucial for plaque build-up.3 Who would think that sweet, sticky raisins could offer so much for your oral health?


9.Onions
“Onion breath” is the most well-known effect these vegetables have on your mouth; but they are actually very good for your oral health and they build bones.
Onions contain sulfur, which is required for the formation of connective tissue. Sulfur is also antibacterial, preventing plaque formation. In addition, onions have a peptide called GPCS, which has been shown to reduce the breakdown of bone.