Teeth whitening is essential for people with discolored, healthy, and unrestored teeth. Patients with yellowed teeth show the best results for teeth whitening. While this procedure is desirable, it is not suitable for everyone. Dentists recommend various products for teeth whitening, including whitening toothpaste, whitening gels and strips, whitening rinses, tray-based whiteners, and in-office whitening solutions.
Whichever the choice, the effectiveness of these whitening solutions depends on the extent of teeth staining, and the dentist’s recommendation. It is important to note that teeth whitening does not offer a permanent solution for white teeth. Often, people will expose their teeth to foods and drinks that cause staining.
With continued use of such foods and drinks, they might witness discoloration in a month or so. As such, it is important to choose what to eat after whitening teeth carefully. People who avoid foods and beverages that can easily stain their teeth can go for a year or more without the need for touch-up or another whitening procedure.
The choice of what to eat after teeth whitening treatment may be tricky for most people. This is especially true for those who are used to specific foods. They may, therefore, find it difficult to adopt the recommended foods post teeth whitening. Dentists can advise on what foods to eat after teeth whitening, and having this conversation with them before the procedure, therefore, provides vital information.
Teeth-Staining Elements
The enamel is the part of the tooth that offers protection to the nerves, and is, therefore, the most affected by the foods and beverages we take. The enamel also gives the crown its color, which may range from white to yellow, depending on the plaque accumulation.
The three main elements that cause teeth staining are:
- acids,
- tannins, and
- chromogens
These are substances contained in various foods and beverages and should be avoided after a teeth whitening procedure. While it may be challenging to go without some of the foods that contain these substances, dentists advise steering clear from such foods and beverages for up to 48 hours after a teeth whitening procedure.
After teeth whitening, the teeth are particularly porous and can easily absorb colored substances from foods and beverages. It is, therefore, important to avoid such foods for at least 48 hours after the procedure to prevent staining.
Teeth Whitening Aftercare
The most effective way of caring for your teeth is by adopting the white diet after teeth whitening. It is, therefore, essential to come up with a white foods list to help protect your teeth from staining. Most of the foods you should be eating after teeth whitening should be white foods. Essentially, these are foods like chicken, rice, and baked foods – those that lack strong colored elements.
Most teeth whitening candidates may ask: what can I eat after teeth whitening? Well, here are diets you can adopt for two or three days after whitening to avoid staining:
Breakfast
- Egg whites
- Plain yogurt
- Bagel
- White tea
- Apple juice
- Porridge
Lunch
- Sandwiches
- Rice and vegetables
- Clear soups
- White cheese
- Pasta
- Cream sauce
Dinner
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Whitefish
- Potatoes
- White pizza with cream sauce
- Cauliflower
Snacks
- Chips
- Pears
- Bananas
- Pretzels
- Crackers
Foods To Avoid After Teeth Whitening
Now that you are familiar with what to eat after teeth whitening, it is also important to know the foods and beverages to avoid after teeth whitening. Generally, dentists discourage candidates from eating foods that stain teeth after whitening. While the range of foods to be avoided may be wide, a rule of thumb is avoiding the vibrantly colored foods. Remember, if it can stain your white shirt, then it can stain your teeth. Here are foods and beverages to avoid after teeth whitening:
- Chocolate (mostly dark chocolate)
- Colored fruits such as blueberries
- Fruit juice
- Red wine
- Tea
- Coffee
- Tomato sauce
- Turmeric and curry
- Soy sauce
- Dark beer
However, eating these foods accidentally doesn’t spell doom to your whitened teeth. Rinsing your mouth immediately with plenty of water and brushing helps remove any color left by the food or drink.
Apart from foods and drinks, dentists also advise against habits such as smoking of cigarettes and chewing tobacco. As evident from most smokers’ teeth, cigarette smoking stains the teeth a huge deal and may, therefore, render the teeth whitening efforts useless. As such, smokers are advised to use nicotine strips or e-cigarettes, which are deemed to cause less or no staining to the teeth.