Can Strawberries Really Whiten Your Teeth?
Nowadays, there are many ways to whiten your teeth. You can use whitening toothpaste, trays, or strips, or you can have them whitened professionally at your dentist’s office. Some sources claim even coconut oil can be used to whiten teeth. The problem is that not all of these options give you the same results, and they don’t all offer the same level of safety. In fact, some whitening products can cause teeth sensitivity, gum irritation, and other unwanted side effects. Although some teeth-whitening options can safely give you sparkling pearly whites without negative side effects, there’s been some buzz over the years related to strawberries as an alternative teeth whitener.
Strawberry-Baking Soda Mixture
Howcast shared a video tutorial on how to make a strawberry-baking soda mixture to brush on your teeth to whiten them. Even the renowned Dr. Oz claimed that eating strawberries, among other fruits, can whiten teeth. In the comments of the Howcast video, one person commented, “This works GREAT!! It whitened my teeth about two shades.” Several other respondents who tried the mixture also claimed the solution worked for them.
However, Dr. So Ran Kwon, a dentist at Loma Linda University Health, conducted a study of the same mixture when she was a dental researcher at the University of Iowa and found less exciting results (via Iowa Now). She claimed the strawberry-baking soda mixture did nothing more than remove debris from the surface of the teeth, but she did acknowledge one benefit to the teeth.
Strawberries as a teeth whitener can be risky
Although strawberries can create the temporary appearance of whiter teeth by removing surface plaque, the risks might outweigh the benefits. If your teeth are a few shades darker than you want them to be, speak with your dentist about whitening options and the best ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy. And save the strawberries for snacking.