Pearly whites are always in style — but they can get stained too, just like white clothing. Teeth whitening has become one of the go-to dental services all across the globe. It can boost your confidence, and it’s an effective way to elevate your facial appearance. While it’s quick, simple and pain-free to get bright teeth, there are some things you should avoid after whitening teeth to be able to enjoy the sparkling results longer. To make this process a little easier, we have compiled a list of teeth whitening do’s and don’ts for you to keep in mind about the food you should and shouldn’t eat and other daily maintenance tips.
Causes of food-based teeth staining
If you’ve recently undergone a teeth whitening treatment or plan to, it’s important to understand the basics of teeth discolouration or staining and how certain foods stain your teeth. Three main factors contribute to staining or darkening your teeth — chromogens, tannins and acids. All three of these directly impact the condition of the enamel, causing your teeth to become weaker or more prone to staining. To avoid staining your newly whitened teeth, we recommend going on a temporary “white diet”.
Foods to avoid after teeth whitening
To maintain your newly whitened teeth, you should be careful and avoid certain staining food items, especially for the first 48 hours post-advanced teeth whitening treatment. Here’s a list of drinks and foods to avoid after teeth whitening:
- Coffee — While it’s a delicious morning and afternoon beverage many of us enjoy, coffee is a strong, dark compound that can stain your newly whitened teeth. If you can’t live without your coffee, we recommend adding milk to reduce the impact.
- Tea — Dark tea is known to be a strong teeth stainer, even in comparison to coffee. So try to avoid it as much as possible right after your procedure.
- Wine — The acidity in wine — especially red wine — makes it a high-risk beverage for teeth. Keep in mind that the acidity in red and white wine weakens the enamel, causing your teeth to be more prone to staining from other foods.
- Fruit juices — The high acidity in fruit juices makes them high-risk drinks for teeth staining. This includes both natural and processed fruit juices alike.
- Foods with natural or added colourants — Any food with natural or added colourants will definitely stain your teeth. This includes fondant, lollies or anything coloured.
- Sugary foods — Sweet foods such as cookies, ice cream or cakes lead to tooth decay and cavities, which increase the risk of staining your teeth.
- Dark condiments — Delicious as they are, dark condiments like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, chocolate sauce, barbeque, or tomato sauce are quite acidic, making your teeth more prone to stains.
- Curry — The vibrant chilli powder and other spices have the ability to naturally cause staining after teeth whitening.
- Turmeric — If there’s a stain you can’t remove from your clothes or teeth, it’s turmeric. This plant-derived yellow-coloured culinary spice is a big no-no after advanced teeth whitening.
Foods you can eat after teeth whitening
Fortunately, there are still a lot of delicious food items you can enjoy and relish immediately after your advanced teeth whitening treatment. These include:
- Whitefish — As long as you cook them without staining spices, you can eat all types of whitefish, such as cod, bass, hake, whiting, basa and prawns.
- White cheese — You can also eat a variety of white cheese, including brie, feta, mozzarella, gruyere, parmesan, and more.
- Potatoes — After teeth whitening, one of the go-to food items is potato. The highly versatile vegetable can be eaten in multiple ways, including baked, mashed or boiled as a salad. We recommend taking the skin off to prevent the risk of staining.
- Skimmed or low-fat milk — If you’re a milk lover, congratulations. Skimmed or low-fat milk is a great post teeth whitening drink.
- White rice, pasta or bread — An excellent choice for when you’ve recently had your teeth whitened. However, don’t go too heavy on them. Their carb-rich composition can lead to cavities if you’re not careful.
- Egg whites — Post-teeth whitening, you can eat eggs as long as you are just eating the whites. The yolk may stain your teeth.
Advanced teeth whitening — do’s and don’ts for daily care
- Brush two to three times a day — If you aren’t already doing this, start now! Brushing two to three times a day after meals is a very good practice to upkeep oral hygiene and maintain your teeth’s colour. If you have recently undergone an advanced teeth whitening procedure, we recommend implementing this habit into your everyday routine.
- Floss every day — Flossing your teeth regularly removes any unnecessary particles and plaque which isn’t easily removed with a toothbrush.
- Think before you eat — If you love mid-day snacking, this tip is for you. Make sure that the bag of chips or crackers you are picking doesn’t have any added colourants or potentially staining ingredients.
- Avoid tobacco — To keep your teeth shining bright and white for longer, stay away from tobacco products. Tar can cause irreversible staining to your teeth and undermine your advanced teeth whitening procedure.
Sydney Road Dental Care — the advanced teeth whitening experts you can count on
If you’re thinking of getting an advanced teeth whitening treatment, look no further! Sydney Road Dental Care can help you achieve a set of sparkling whites in no time. Our team of teeth whitening dentists can help you restore your faded or discoloured teeth and give them new life with advanced teeth whitening.
Book an appointment today to find out the best teeth whitening plan for you. If you have any questions about our dental services or payment plans, get in touch with our team, and we will be happy to help you with your queries. Whether you’re a new patient or an existing one looking for a professional teeth whitening treatment to achieve a smile to remember, we can help you find the perfect solution.