If you just had your teeth whitened, you’re likely happy with the results. After all, this procedure leaves pearly whites six to eight shades brighter! Still, whitening’s effects won’t last if you don’t adjust your diet. Your smile will be susceptible to staining right after treatment. For that reason, there are foods you should avoid after teeth whitening. Your local Covington dentist can even explain which ones. To that end, here are four foods to skip following a whitening treatment.
Foods to Avoid After Teeth Whitening
When your enamel is whitened, subsequent food stains stand out more against it. That being the case, try to avoid the following items for a while:
Highly Acidic Foods
If you don’t already know, the whitening process weakens your enamel. (This effect stems from the bleach used in the treatment’s gel.) Given that fact, acidic foods would further weaken the tooth layer and lead to stains and sensitivity. You’d prefer to avoid that situation, right?
To avoid extra-weak enamel, then, don’t eat food with a lot of organic acids. These might include citrus fruits (i.e., lemons, limes, oranges), tomatoes, pineapples, pickled foods, and processed meats.
Foods with Dyes
Whether natural or artificial, dyes in food inevitably stain teeth. They can change the color of many items, let alone tooth enamel. Consequently, you should avoid meals that heavily incorporate dyes.
In today’s market of artificially-made items, there are many examples of dye-heavy foods. Some of the most common are popsicles, candy, sports drinks, and gelatin.
Dark-Colored Beverages
Even in the best times, dark-colored beverages can discolor teeth. They’re yet more likely to do so after a whitening treatment. Drinks like coffee, tea, and soda all have pigments that can get trapped in the craters of your tooth enamel. That means having them easily causes stains.
With all that said, try to avoid dark-colored beverages as best you can. However, if you absolutely must have one, drink it through a straw and rinse your mouth with water afterward.
Dark Sauces
The rule about dark-colored drinks also applies to dark sauces. Namely, these toppings can darken your smile if they reach your enamel. From there, they might cling to your teeth due to their natural stickiness.
For now, don’t eat things like ketchup, soy sauce, mustard, and so on. Instead, try to season your food with alternatives like salt or pepper.
Foods You Could Try Instead
Of course, teeth whitening doesn’t restrict all tasty foods. It’s possible to follow a diet that’s safe for whitened chompers. In particular, try to have your meals feature the following:
- Rice
- Yogurt
- Scrambled eggs
- Bananas
- Coconut
- Bread
- Sushi
A few days after your whitening treatment, you can re-introduce staining foods into your diet. Before that time comes, though, don’t eat the products referenced above. Your brightened grin will last longer that way!
About the Practice
Dean Dental Care is based in Covington, GA. Led by Dr. Stephen Dean, our practice strives to give each patient high-quality dental care. Therefore, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency smile procedures. These offerings allow us to tailor treatment to your unique needs and make your smile both healthy and beautiful. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (770)-786-3915.