Yellowing Teeth: What You Eat Can Change Everything

A bright smile doesn't just depend on your toothbrush. Diet plays a crucial role in the appearance and health of your teeth. To find out more, we gathered advice from Clotilde Austoni, dental surgeon at San Raffaele in Milan. Between foods to avoid, practical tips and simple reflexes, here's what you need to know.

Foods Cannot Whiten Teeth Naturally

First of all, let's get things straight: no food can actually whiten teeth. Despite what you can read on the internet, no natural substance can eliminate pigments embedded in enamel. The only effective method remains professional whitening, under medical supervision.

Foods that yellow your teeth (by staining)

Certain categories of foods are known to color enamel. The dentist recommends paying attention to:

  • 🍓 Red fruits (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries)
  • 🌿 Spinach and other dark vegetables
  • 🍷 Red wine
  • ☕ Tea, herbal tea, coffee : the tannins they contain stain the enamel permanently
  • 🍬 Licorice : especially in sticks

These foods do not necessarily damage teeth, but they visibly stain them over time. As Dr. Austoni points out: “Observe the inside of tea cups, even when washed, they remain stained…”

Foods that attack enamel (and make teeth yellower)

Other foods make enamel more porous or erode it, which reveals the dentin (more yellow) underneath:

  • 🥤 Sweet drinks, sodas, energy drinks
  • 🍊 Citrus fruits (lemon, orange), tomatoes, vinegar
  • 🍰 Foods high in sugars (crackers, cookies) that cause oral acidity

Acidity weakens tooth enamel, promoting yellowing… and cavities.

How to limit the effects of these foods?

Fortunately, there are simple actions to protect your smile:

  • 🚰 Rinse your mouth with water after consuming pigmenting or acidic foods
  • 🪥 Brush your teeth 30 minutes after the meal (not immediately after the acidity)
  • 🍎 Favor “cleansing” foods like apples, lettuce, nuts, or dairy products

These stimulate salivation, which helps to “self-clean” the mouth and limit the stagnation of food residues.

And for the children? Watch out for bad habits

Children are particularly exposed to cavities, not only from sweets, but also from frequent snacking. Austoni specifies: “If a child often has something in his mouth without brushing his teeth, the acidity is constant. »

A balanced diet, the key to a healthy mouth

Finally, a varied and balanced diet remains the best strategy for keeping teeth healthy, white and strong. Each age of life benefits from a dietary approach adapted to strengthen enamel, reduce inflammation and maintain a smile in great shape.

Eat better to smile better

Whitening your teeth starts on the plate. Even if no food is a miracle cure, avoiding certain products and favoring those that protect enamel is an essential step. Adopt these habits now to find a brighter smile, naturally.

👉 Source : Read the original article on La Cucina Italiana