4 Foods to Avoid After Teeth Whitening Treatment

Professional teeth whitening treatments aren’t designed to keep your teeth bright and white forever. However, by avoiding or limiting consumption of certain foods and drinks you may be able to prolong how long your teeth stay white. Let’s jump in as we share the 4 foods to avoid after teeth whitening.

To help you keep your smile bright and white as long as possible, we have created a list of four foods and drinks that are most responsible for dulling the whitening effect of your professional teeth whitening treatment. Let’s jump in as we share the 4 foods to avoid after teeth whitening.

Brightly Colored Fruits

Snacking on fruits throughout the day is supposed to be healthy and it is, but it is the worst thing you could do if you want to keep your teeth bright and white after visiting the dentist for a tooth whitening treatment.

Brightly colored fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, can cause unsightly stains to appear on your teeth. The stains start to appear because these fruits have such a bright, vibrant color to them.

If you want to keep your teeth white longer, you will want to also stop drinking fruit juices. These beverages can cause just as much staining as if you ate the fruit.

Coffee, Tea, and Other Dark Colored Beverages

Each of your teeth is made up of tiny little pores. When you drink a dark-colored beverage, such as coffee, tea, soda, or sports drinks, the pores on your teeth naturally absorb the liquid. Once the liquid is absorbed, it becomes trapped in the pores of your teeth and creates the stains and discoloration which cause your teeth to not look white and bright.

To keep your teeth bright and white after a professional whitening treatment, try to avoid all dark colored beverages. If you are unable to avoid drinking your morning coffee or favorite tea in the evening, make sure you use a straw. Using a straw will reduce the amount of contact your teeth have with the liquid and could prevent stains.

Red Wine

The bright color should be enough to keep you away from red wine if you want to keep your teeth white, but that isn’t the only reason why you should avoid this beverage. Red wine contains a component known as tannins. Tannin is a natural element that instinctively binds and clings to your teeth after you consume it. This makes you more susceptible to staining.

Foods Made with Dark Colored Sauces

When looking for foods to avoid after teeth whitening, the red color of tomato sauce or ketchup makes it obvious as something to avoid. However, there are other, less obvious, savory sauces that you will want to avoid in an effort to keep your teeth white for as long as possible.

Some examples of dark-colored sauces to avoid include:

• Anything made with soy sauce
• Meats that have been marinated in dark-colored marinades or covered in dark sauces
• Any condiments that are brightly colored, especially if the color is yellow, red, or dark brown
• Vinegar-based condiments such as sauces, marinades, and dressings

How Long Will Teeth Stay White After a Professional Whitening Treatment?

Unfortunately, there is no way to determine exactly how long your teeth will stay white after a professional teeth whitening treatment. It is impossible to determine because every patient is different and so many factors influence the longevity of the whitening procedure.

However, if you carefully avoid the foods and drinks listed above and take additional steps, such as brushing your teeth three times a day and not smoking, you should be able to keep your teeth bright and white for anywhere from a year to three years.

Schedule an Appointment to Discuss Teeth-Whitening Treatment with Your Dentist

Call Artistic Touch Dentistry to schedule an appointment to discuss professional teeth whitening or foods to avoid after teeth whitening. Our friendly Melbourne Florida dentist will be able to provide you with a better understanding of what to expect during treatment, how long you can expect your teeth to stay white, and even provide tips for things you can do to keep your smile as white as possible after a whitening procedure. Call us today to schedule an appointment!