A-listers and models always have perfect teeth, which seem to be impossibly white. For the rest of us, we try trips to the dentist, activated charcoal, and whitening toothpaste, but the secret could really be in what we are eating and drinking, and avoiding a few of these things can result in much whiter, healthier-looking teeth.

How to naturally whiten your teeth

Some of the natural ways to whiten your teeth, which is much smarter than using products filled with chemicals, include brushing with baking soda. According to Healthline, baking soda has natural whitening properties and brushing with a paste of baking soda and water can decrease the bacteria in your mouth and help remove surface stains.

There is reportedly also a strawberry and baking soda remedy, which is beneficial because of the malic acid found in strawberries, which can help whiten the teeth. The publication also suggests using apple cider vinegar, but limiting usage to a few times per week as it can erode the enamel, and to never “underestimate the value of brushing and flossing.”

According to WebMD, sugar-free gum is also beneficial because it increases the flow of saliva, which neutralizes acids in the mouth. And water should also be your drink of choice for the same reason.

Prevent foods and drinks, and keep teeth pearly white

But perhaps the best way to get white teeth is to prevent discoloration altogether. This can be done by ensuring you have enough calcium in your diet (from cheese and milk) which will strengthen the enamel of the teeth and help to keep them white. But it also means avoiding certain foods and drinks like red wine, soda, coffee, berries, and soy sauce.

According to Bustle, eating soy sauce regularly will gradually result in stains because of the dark coloring of the sauce, and coffee also has a staining effect because they contain tannins, although adding milk to the beverage reportedly reduces the effect.

Unfortunately, foods and drinks high in acidity, like red wine, citrus fruits, and pickled onions, also need to be avoided if you want white teeth because they erode the enamel.

Greatist notes that sugar is really bad for your teeth, so it's best to avoid sweets as these lead to bacteria which release acids that cause tooth decay. The same can be said for soda.

The publication leaves us with a great parting thought; if a food is difficult to remove from your clothing, then it’s probably going to be hard to remove from your teeth, too.

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