The WHITE TEETH diet: Dentist reveals how to EAT your way to whiter gnashers

Most 'white teeth' diets focus on avoiding foods red wine, curry and coffee which stain the teeth, Dr Anthony Zybutz from Harley Street's TDC Implant Centre said. But its equally important to choose foods that actively work to clean the teeth and keep them sparking, he advised.

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 chewing 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, because the chewing action removes other food particles, and prevents plaque build-up. These types of food also massage the gums too, stimulating blood flow that keeps them healthy.

SALIVA 

Increasing saliva flow helps keep teeth whiter, so citrus fruits like grapefruits, lime, lemon and oranges help rinse your teeth naturally as you eat. Strawberries are particularly good in this respect, because they contain malic acid, an enzyme that encourages saliva production. 

GUM INFLAMMATION AND DECAY 

There are some other foods that also help promote white teeth. Vegetables that are high in fibre such as broccoli are good for keeping down inflammation of the gums, while interestingly, pineapple is the only food that contains bromelain, a naturally occurring compound with cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties.

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.

And of course, whatever a patient chooses to eat, there are huge benefits to drinking plenty of water. Along with being one of the most important things we consume, it's also effective for washing away all the potentially staining food before it has chance to make a mark.

STAINS 

This is what most patients think of when talking about diets that promote white teeth. This of course means that red wine, coffee, tea, cola and sports drinks 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 and soy sauce, and inevitably sweets 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 tannins and acids will stain too.

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