Professional teeth whitening treatments allow people to achieve a brighter, prettier smile quickly and comfortably. These procedures can deliver results far superior to those of similar products sold in stores, leaving patients’ smiles up to ten shades whiter. While professional teeth whitening will not permanently weaken your teeth, they will be vulnerable to stains and discoloration for a few days after treatment. Here are a few foods and beverages to steer clear of if you’ve recently had your teeth whitened.
Avoid Anything Acidic
Acidic foods and drinks are always harsh on your enamel, but it’s especially important to avoid them when your teeth are in a vulnerable state after teeth whitening. Exposing recently treated teeth to acidic foods and drinks can damage the enamel layer, leaving your teeth more vulnerable to decay and more sensitive to temperature changes. A few notorious offenders include:
- Tomatoes
- Alcohol
- Sodas
- Pineapples
- Processed meats
- Any sort of pickled foods
- Citrus fruits such as limes, lemons, grapefruits, or oranges
Dark Beverages Can Be Dangerous
Dark beverages can stain your teeth if you’re not careful, but they’re especially harmful if you’ve recently had your teeth whitened. Coffee, tea, colas, sports drinks, and red wine can leave your teeth with unsightly yellowish or purplish stains or discoloration. You’ll have nothing to worry about if you stick to water.
Dark Sauces Can Result in Whitening Losses
Sauces are used across the world to enhance the flavor of many foods, and the dark color of many of them is part of the pleasure they bring. However, dark sauces are heavy with pigment, and these pigments can easily bind to enamel that has been recently whitened. Avoid sauces such as mustard, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and barbecue sauce to preserve your teeth’s new pearly whiteness.
If you’ve gone through the effort to get teeth whitening treatment, it only makes sense that you’d want to make sure you achieve the desired results. Wait a few days before indulging in these foods and beverages (while practicing excellent oral hygiene), and your teeth will be white and beautiful.
About the Author
Dr. Nelson Y. Howard earned his dental doctorate at the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 before completing a General Practice Residency at the V.A. Medical Center in West Los Angeles. He is a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and a founding member of the West Coast Society for Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in San Marcos, CA offers family, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening treatments. For more information on taking care of recently whitened teeth, contact the office online or dial (858) 451-0550.