Unlocking a Bright Smile with Strawberries: Fact or Fiction?

As kids, we'd climb our grandmother's walnut tree to snag some green walnuts, convinced they would whiten our teeth. Apart from turning our mouths black and leaving us with a bitter taste, it didn't do much. Our smiles weren't any whiter than before.

Turns out, there was a much simpler method that actually works: strawberries.

A study on ripe strawberries in the context of teeth whitening found that the citric acid they contain does indeed give teeth a brighter appearance.

"Strawberries also contain malic acid, a natural enamel whitener," explains American dentist Christine Frank. "Citric acid is known to accelerate demineralization and give teeth a shiny appearance." Additionally, strawberries pack a punch of Vitamin C, which is known to break down plaque and tartar, while generally boosting tooth and oral health.

However, according to Dr. Frank, although this home remedy really works, it's important to pay attention to how you use it because the impact is superficial.

"Rubbing strawberries on your teeth can give the illusion of whiter, shinier teeth, but soon after, your teeth will revert to their pre-strawberry appearance. It's not a permanent trick."

At least we're comforted by the fact it doesn't have the bitterness of walnut peels from our childhood.