What Not to Eat/Drink After Teeth Whitening Treatment

As you complete your teeth whitening treatment at the dentist’s office, you look at your smile in the mirror. The transformation is incredible, and you cannot wait to show your friends how brilliant your teeth are now. Although you know whitening is not permanent, you want the results to last as long as possible.

After you have gone through the trouble of whitening your teeth, you need to consider how you can keep them shining for a good, long while. The main cause of teeth staining is the food and drinks you consume, meaning you could help keep discoloration from coming back by avoiding certain things in your diet. Keep reading to learn what these things are and how you can retain your new, white smile.

Acidic Foods

While the first acidic foods that come to mind are citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, or lemons, other foods, such as tomatoes or pineapples, are high in acidic content as well. Sodas and pickles are also highly acidic. As a result, the acid weakens the white enamel, making it more prone to picking up stains.

Dark-Colored Drinks and Sauces

If you want to preserve your whitening results, then try to stay away from dark-colored beverages and sauces. Drinking red wine, coffee, dark soda, as well as tea on a regular basis will make your teeth lose their brilliance more quickly. Soy sauce, tomato sauce, and others will do the same, which is why you could limit how often you have them.

Foods Containing Dyes

If you are not already, check the ingredients in the food you eat. You may find that many of them contain artificial or natural dyes. They are particularly high in sports drinks and candy. If you want your teeth to stay pristinely white, you should start paying closer attention to what is in your food and drinks.

Spices

Certain spices pack more of stain punch than others, for example, curry, cumin, turmeric, paprika, cayenne pepper, and saffron.

Dark-Colored Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are beneficial for your health; however, not all of them are conducive to keeping a brighter smile. Darkly pigmented veggies and fruit like blueberries or blackberries, spinach and other leafy greens, beets, and carrots, while nutritious, can cause your teeth to stain. For a little while after getting your teeth whitened you may want refrain from these foods or have them a different way, such as in a smoothie with a straw.

In the end, you do not have to abstain from these drinks and foods completely. Just know that they may accelerate fading of your new white smile, and so consumption of them in moderation is key. There are plenty of other foods you can have that will not impact your teeth’s color. Just a few examples include rice, yogurt, eggs, bananas, sushi, and milk. By making smart choices in your diet in the days and weeks following treatment, you can keep that brilliant shine!

About the Author

Dr. Nicholas Mueller (just call him Dr. Nick!) earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota and his dental doctorate at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is a current, active member of the American Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, Wisconsin Dental Association, and the International Association of Orthodontics. To schedule a consultation for cosmetic dentistry at Shorewood Family Dentistry, visit our website or call us today at 414-332-8150.