Excited to show off your newly brightened pearly whites? If so, you’ll want to know how to make them last. The first 48 hours following your teeth whitening treatment is the window of time your teeth are most sensitive to discoloration and staining. Set your dazzling, revitalized smile up for success by avoiding these 4 foods for the days following your treatment and choosing other options instead.
#1. Acidic Foods
Your enamel is weakened from bleach during the whitening process. Acidic foods can further weaken and wear away at your enamel, leading to increased temperature sensitivity and other oral health issues.
Some acidic foods to avoid are:
- Citrus fruits
- Pickles
- Pineapples
- Processed meats
- Tomatoes
#2. Foods with Dark Sauces
A good rule to follow is that if it’ll stain a white shirt, it will stain your rejuvenated smile. If you’ve ever eaten spaghetti and looked down to see red blotches on your shirt, you know that dark-colored sauces turn plain-white tees into a masterclass in abstract art.
Dark sauces you should stay away from in the days following your treatment include tomato sauce, soy sauce, and mustard.
#3. Dark-colored Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and plants are often used in natural dye-making, so it makes sense that darker colors will stain your pearly whites.
Avoiding fruits and vegetables such as berries, beets, purple cabbage, pomegranates, and dark, leafy greens can help preserve the effects of treatment.
#4. Foods Containing Dyes
If you’ve ever dyed your hair without gloves, you can attest to how the color gets everywhere and doesn’t come out. Avoid any food or beverage that contains dyes, whether natural or artificial.
Stay away from foods such as popsicles, sports drinks, and candy. If it’ll stain your tongue, it’ll stain your teeth!
What Foods Preserve Your Pearly Whites
If you’re supposed to avoid anything that would stain a white t-shirt, the same general rule applies in reverse. Eating foods that are lighter in color, or even white, in the days following your treatment, can keep your whitened teeth looking brighter for longer.
Some examples of what you can eat or drink during this time are:
- Rice
- Yogurt
- Scrambled eggs
- Bananas
- Bread
- Coconut
- Milk
A few days after your treatment, you can reintegrate more colorful foods back into your diet. However, until then, it’s best to avoid staining foods to make the most of your brightened smile.
By steering clear of foods and beverages that will negate the time, effort, and money spent on professional teeth whitening, you can prolong the effects of your treatment. You’ll be showing your pearly whites off for months to come!
About the Author
Dr. Jon Kirlough is passionate about enhancing and preserving the smiles of patients of all ages. Even if you maintain a good and thorough oral hygiene routine, the color of your teeth will change over time. Kirlough Family Dentistry is committed to helping patients take control of their smile goals with both in-office and take-home whitening kits for safe and effective results. If you want to know more about what you should and shouldn’t eat after teeth whitening, contact Dr. Kirlough at his website or by phone at (440) 234-2445.