The idea that strawberries can be used to whiten teeth has been around for a while, but does it really work? No — and it might actually do more harm than good. Find out why:
There’s a popular teeth whitening “hack” that’s been floating around for some time, and it involves using a paste made from strawberries to whiten your teeth naturally. So, should you give it a try?
In reality, using strawberries (and acidic fruits in general) to whiten your teeth can actually do more harm than good. Luckily there are many other affordable solutions that will give you the whiter smile you’re looking for without hurting your tooth enamel.
Within this article, we’ll disprove the strawberry whitening “hack” and offer some safer alternatives to consider instead.
So, Does Using Strawberries to Whiten Teeth Actually Work?
The short answer is no, it doesn’t. But before we dive into why that is, let’s first address what we mean when we talk about using strawberries to whiten teeth.
The popular process involves crushing strawberries to make a paste that you put on your teeth. Some people add baking soda to the mixture, whereas others don’t. Either way, the main ingredient is strawberry. That paste is then rubbed onto the teeth in the hopes that, when it’s removed, the teeth will appear whiter than before.
This idea doesn’t come out of nowhere. Strawberries do have some properties that could make them seem like an effective teeth-whitening agent. Unfortunately, those same properties are the ones that can cause serious long-term damage to your teeth. Specifically, we’re talking about citric acid. The citric acid can give an illusion of whiter teeth for around an hour after you put on the strawberry paste as the paste does indeed remove some plaque from your teeth. However, that whiteness will soon disappear since the change is simply superficial and your teeth will be left looking just like they did before.
The Risks of Using Strawberries as a Teeth Whitener
We’ve established that strawberries won’t whiten your teeth effectively, but is there any danger in trying it out? Sadly, the answer is yes. The sugar and citric acid in the strawberries can cause major damage when left on your teeth for long periods of time.
The reason strawberries are so delicious is because they’re full of natural sugar! While it’s not as dangerous as the sugar you find in processed sweets, it can still cause serious damage when you put strawberry juice all over your teeth. That fruit sugar will quickly start eating away at your tooth enamel, leaving you at a higher risk of developing cavities. Combine that with the citric acid in strawberries, which can also wear down your tooth enamel, and you’re left with quite the hazardous way of (temporarily) whitening your teeth.
What are Safe Alternatives for Teeth Whitening?
The good news is that there are plenty of well-established, low-risk alternatives for whitening your teeth that work much better than strawberries — without the risk. You can even buy many of these at your local pharmacy! Safer teeth whitening options include:
Whitening mouthwashes
Whitening toothpastes, including ones with baking soda
Whitening strips
Whitening gel treatments
Professional in-office bleaching
Professional at-home bleaching
Whiten Your Teeth Safely Today!
If you’re looking to whiten your teeth — and you’re hoping for effects that last more than a few hours — strawberries aren’t the right choice for you. They will only provide a brief appearance of whiter teeth while causing lasting damage. Instead, you should turn to your dentist for recommendations on the best way to whiten your teeth, whether it’s using over-the-counter products or a professional whitening treatment.
At the Oklahoma City, OK Espire practice our dental professionals can guide you toward the perfect whitening solution for your teeth. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
"Strawberries contain citric acid which may give teeth a very temporary whiter appearance after you apply it," she says. But that doesn't mean the stains on your teeth have been removed. The acid from the berries breaks down your tooth enamel and causes dehydration. So, the teeth may temporarily appear whiter.
To get a pair of pearly whites, puree or crush one strawberry, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and mix well. Dip your toothbrush into the mixture, and coat your teeth with it. Let the mixture sit on your teeth for about five minutes before brushing your teeth with your regular toothpaste.
Soft, nonacidic fruits are less likely to hurt sensitive teeth, which makes them ideal for post-whitening. Focus on paler-colored berries, like strawberries, as dark-colored berries can cause staining. Berries are also packed with vitamins and minerals, which are great for your gum health.
Papain and bromelain, which are enzymes that occur in papayas and pineapples respectively, may both help to whiten teeth. A 2020 study found that tooth bleaching gels containing bromelain or papain have substantial clinical potential to whiten teeth.
The citric acid can give an illusion of whiter teeth for around an hour after you put on the strawberry paste as the paste does indeed remove some plaque from your teeth. However, that whiteness will soon disappear since the change is simply superficial and your teeth will be left looking just like they did before.
Advocates of the home remedy say the potassium, magnesium and manganese in banana peels absorb into your teeth and whiten them. Others suggest that lemon peels, strawberries or orange peels can be used as natural teeth whiteners.
Crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, and broccoli can help whiten your teeth by chewing them. Their high water content aids in rinsing your mouth of dirt and bacteria that can cause stains. Brocolli have high levels of iron, which protects teeth from cavities and stains.
The white, patchy, streaky, or lined look of teeth after whitening is normal – it's called enamel demineralization. Enamel demineralisation is a process where the minerals in the tooth enamel are lost, resulting in weakened and more susceptible teeth.
Strawberries, blackberries, grapes, pomegranates, and fruit jellies and jams all have a high level of acidity. Acidic foods do not cause significant harm to the teeth, but they can temporarily weaken or soften the enamel if they are too consistent in your diet.
Pinterest Tip: Mix 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Use a Q-tip or cotton ball and gently swab teeth. After 30 seconds, rinse and brush teeth.
APPLY VASELINE TO YOUR TEETH. A slick across your gnashers can not only act as a protective layer against staining from what passes your lips, but also it can keep lippy in place and prevent it from transferring onto your teeth. Either way – you've got a whiter smile.
The most common approach dentists use for brightening teeth is professional teeth whitening. It entails bleaching teeth enamel to remove surface and intrinsic stains.
Although not a substitute for brushing and flossing, eating an apple or other fibrus fruits like oranges, carrots or celery can help clean your teeth and increases salivation, which can neutralize the citric and malic acids left behind in your mouth.
1 part of 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with 2 parts water makes an easy and affordable tooth-whitening mouthwash. Alternatively, create a paste using 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and brush with this to remove yellow stains on teeth.
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