When it comes to white teeth, you really are what you eat. Yet while it may not be surprising that rich tomato curry sauces, red wine and coffee will all leave stains, there’s more to the white teeth diet than just choosing food of the right colour.
The desire for pearly white teeth is certainly not a modern phenomenon. While celebrity culture has no doubt fuelled people’s fascination with the perfect, sparkling smile, the origins of this most sought-after look go much further back than our current obsession with the Hollywood grin.
There were no whitening gels or bleaches during the time of the Egyptians, but that didn’t stop the civilisation known for worshipping beauty wanting sparkling teeth. Pharaohs 4,000 years ago are known to have combined ground pumice stone with vinegar to create a paste in an effort to restore the natural colour. The Romans also developed their own techniques, sometimes using goats’ milk, but more adventurously, often gargling with urine.
Fast-forward to the 18th century and it was barbers who decided to offer teeth whitening – by filing them down and soaking them in nitric acid. It worked perfectly and practically instantaneously, though it later turned out that it was also disintegrating the enamel.
So in 2014, if patients want whiter teeth, but want to keep hold of their enamel, what can they do? Setting aside the various whitening treatments available – the best place to start is with diet.
Eating your way to whiter teeth
There are three key factors that patients need to keep in mind when it comes to the white teeth diet: chewing, saliva production, and staining. The diet isn’t just about avoiding red wine and coffee, but rather choosing the kinds of food that actively work to clean and protect your teeth.
Chewing
Fruit and vegetables that need a bit of bite act like a toothbrush during meals, scrubbing the surface of the teeth as people chew. Apples, carrots, cauliflower, green beans and celery are all great crunchy choices. Hard cheeses are also effective as they prevent plaque build-up.
Saliva
Increasing saliva flow helps keep teeth whiter, so chewing sugar free gum is an excellent way to enhance both your
teeth's appearance and oral health.
Stains
Red wine, coffee and tea are definitely going to stain the teeth and should be avoided where possible. There are plenty of other foods that stain too: fruits like blackberries, pomegranates and blueberries, curry sauces (tumeric) and soy sauce and anything coloured artificially. To put it simply, if it would stain your shirt, it will do the same to your teeth.
But before you encourage patients to reach for the Chardonnay instead of the Merlot, the truth is that white wine isn’t great for teeth colour either, because their acids can etch the tooth surfaces and encourage staining.
Other factors
Calcium contributes to keeping teeth white, so dairy products including milk and yoghurts are also worth including in a good dental diet. Their lactic acid will help prevent decay too.
Being realistic
There will be few patients willing or able to stick completely rigidly to a diet made up purely of these ‘low-stain’ foods, and there’s no reason why they should have to. As with much of the best health advice, everything in moderation, and the occasional glass of red isn’t a problem.
What is more important is that a white teeth diet is combined with good overall dental hygiene. Thorough brushing, rinsing after meals and regular check-ups all play a vital part, and diet certainly shouldn’t be seen as the solution on its own.