A bright smile is something everyone wants and makes you feel good about yourself. Tooth brightening is one way to go but you can also skip those treatments by using natural remedies for whiter teeth. Tossing a few of these in your healthy food bag not only gives you tasty snacks but also helps give whiter teeth. Here are the best natural remedies you can eat and help you achieve whiter teeth! 
Water – Turns out the best thirst quencher is also your friend for your teeth. Water helps wash away acid producing foods from the mouth. It also promotes saliva production, which in turn helps you keep your teeth pearly white. Always drink water before and after a meal to wash out any debris in your mouth. Also drinking 8 oz. of water before a meal will make you eat less!
Apples – When eating an apple you are also scrubbing your teeth. Apples also have a high concentration of malic acid, which is found in many toothpastes. Malic acid will also increase saliva, which neutralizes acids in the mouth.
Cheese and Milk – Cheese and milk helps keep your teeth strong with the calcium and phosphorus plus the protein helps with the enamel in your teeth. Also the lactic acid in cheese and milk helps to protect against tooth decay, Studies suggest that cheese and milk may even help strengthen the protective minerals in teeth surfaces. Then to top it off, cheese also promotes the products of saliva!
Broccoli – High in fiber, eating crisp raw broccoli will help clean and polish your teeth. Also eating lots of fiber will help reduce inflammation in your mouth. Also the iron in broccoli offers you the added benefit or providing protection for your teeth against the acid produced by bacteria the causes stains and cavities.
Dark Chocolate – Substances found in cocoa appear to dampen inflammation and may help protect against erosion and decay. Dark chocolate is a good choice, since it is lower in sugar than milk chocolate.
Raisins – Yes raisins! You might think since they are sticky to your teeth they might be bad but actually that stickiness is actually protective. Studies show cereals with raisins provide better protection than cereals without raisins. Chewing raisins also promotes saliva which helps to prevent plaque, cavities and stains from developing.
Pineapple – This is the only food that naturally contains bromelain which is a compound with cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain is also an ingredient in some stain-removing toothpaste.
Strawberries – Like apples, strawberries contain malic acid. In addition they contain the added benefit of antioxidants that help reduce bacteria and inflammation in the mouth. They also contain vitamin C which helps prevent gum inflammation and dental disease.
Snacks – You are in the middle of your trip or at work and the dreaded snack attach hits. Instead of hitting the candy bar try making this tasty curried snack mix at home then keeping some in a Zip lock bag in your desk or suitcase. When the snack attack strikes grab this and you will save money, calories and be eating healthier!
Curried Snack Mix
Prep – 10 minutes, Bake 10 minutes at 350. Keeps at room temperature for at least 5 days!
• 3 plain rice cakes, broken into bite-size pieces
• 1 2-oz can of chow mein noodles
• 2 cups of bite size chex corn mix or oyster crackers
• 1 cup of salted soy nuts
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 2 teaspoons of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of curry powder
• optional – add in 1 cup of pistachio nuts, 1 cup of dried pineapple, 1 cup of sesame sticks or 1 cup of dried cranberries or raisins.
1) Preheat oven to 300*F. In a 13x9x2 inch baking pan gently stir together rice cakes, chow mein noodles, cereal and soy nuts (plus any of the optional items you might want to add).
2) In a small saucepan combine butter, soy sauce and curry powder. Cook and sitr over a low heat until the butter is melted. Drizzle butter over the rice cake mixture, toss gently to coat.
3) Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once or twice. Let cool. Makes 12 1/2 cup servings.
4) Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Per 1/2 cup serving, 144 cal, 8g fat (4g sat fat), 14mg chol, 236mg sodium, 13g carb, 2g fiber, 5g pro. This can vary depending on the optional items you might add.
Salad in a Bag – a fresh salad while on the road makes a great meal. Try out this salad in a bag idea. Use a ziplock bag to hold the salad. Mix and match as you want but the keys are:
1) layer the salad items in your ziplock bag to keep the items separate then stand if up in your tote bag.
2) Keep the dressing in a separate container and we recommend the Go Toob. Designed for ease of travel, these refillable three-ounce containers will be the first items you reach for every time you fly. The set of three flexible tubes can hold shampoo, soap, lotion, face wash or anything else you might need for a trip. The special no-drip valve ensures that the contents stay inside the tubes where they belong, instead of all over your carry-on items. Wide opening allows for easy filling and cleaning. ID window for labeling. Approved for airline carry-on. Food safe. BPA free. These are also dishwasher safe! You can buy the GoToob at the Container Store, at the DFW Employee Store at the DFW Airport by Gate C2 or at www.AirlineEmployeeShop.com
Remember the trick is layering the salad so the lettuce or spinach leaves do not get soggy and your various items interact with each other as little as possible until you are ready to eat. So here is a basic recipe from which you can deviate as you wish depending on what you want in your salad. This way you can keep it different and fresh and it’s not eating the same old salad every day or every meal.
So from bottom up here is how you layer it in your zip log baggie:
1. 1 Cup of cooked pasta – rotini, shells, mini bow ties, elbow macaroni. If you want this can be optional if you don’t want pasta in your salad.
2. 1 Cup of Vegetables – Diced red onion, sliced celery, small broccoli florets, halved snow peas, halved, grape tomatoes, sliced fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced carrots, chopped sweet peppers
3. 1 Cup of Protein – Cooked chicken breast, cooked turkey breast, cooked ham, cooked pork tenderloin, cooked tuna, garbanzo beans, even cooked beef steak. This is a great way to use leftovers!
4. 2 tablespoons of dried fruits – Raisins, cranberries, cherries, chopped figs, chopped apricots, cubed apples.
5. 2 tablespoons low fat cheese – crumbled blue or feta cheese, goat cheese, diced swiss cheese, shredded cheddar
6. 1 tablespoon on nuts – chopped walnuts, hazlenuts, almonds, peanuts, pistacio nuts
7. 1 cup of packed greens – baby spinach, torn romaine, bibb, butterhead or any other baby lettuce or greens you like.
Now when you are ready for your salad, pour in your salad dressing using your Go Toob, seal, shake and eat! Now if you don’t want to go to the expense of the Go Toob, then pour 2 tablespoons of low calorie or reduced fat salad dressing into your bag BEFORE you layer in the salad. It is okay for the pasta to sit in the salad dressing. If you do this route is it very important to keep your salad in a bag upright as much as possible in your tote bag to keep everything fresh and not get soggy.
these are a couple of our ideas! what are your travel snack ideas? Let us know below!