So you just finished your teeth whitening treatment and your teeth are sparkling white, looking brand new! Surely, you wish to keep that stunning smile for as long as possible, before requiring a return visit to your teeth whitening technician. After all, your teeth whitening treatment was an expense you don’t want to have to do again every week – because professional LED teeth whitening treatments are relatively long-lasting.
The effectiveness of your whitening treatment’s longevity all depends on how well you will take care of your oral hygiene post-treatment. This comes down to daily brushing, flossing, and using a mouth rinse – but also what you eat and drink.
Many of the foods and beverages we enjoy can often discolour our teeth, leaving undesirable staining and yellowing. Going right back to these foods post-treatment can limit the effectiveness of your whitening to just a month. But, if you pay close attention to what you eat and drink, and avoid staining foods as much as possible, you could potentially wait an entire year or more before needing a touch-up whitening procedure.
Diet is tricky – people like what they eat and it’s hard to say no to what you enjoy, especially if you are so used to specific foods. Therefore, it is understandably difficult to fully adopt a recommended diet post teeth whitening. However, trying to limit staining drinks and foods as often as you can, and listening to your teeth whitening technician’s advice for taking care of your newly whitened teeth will help you take care of your teeth.
What Stains Teeth?
Your teeth are covered by a layer of enamel, which protects the nerves in your teeth. It is what is highly affected by the foods and beverages we enjoy. The enamel is also what gives your teeth their colour, which ranges from white to yellow, depending on the plaque accumulation.
The main elements that affect teeth staining are: acids, tannins, and chromogens
You can find these substances in a wide variety of foods and beverages and they should be avoided as much as possible after a teeth whitening treatment. Most teeth whitening technicians recommend a 48-hour period before resuming eating and drinking stain-causing foods. This is because your teeth can be a bit more porous after teeth whitening, meaning it will be easier to stain them.
What Should You Do After Whitening?
The best answer is to take care of your newly whitened teeth with a white diet – foods and drinks that are known to not stain your teeth. These include chicken, rice, and baked foods that do not have strong colour. So avoid heavy tomato sauces, sodas, coffees, teas, and other dark-coloured foods, sauces, and drinks.
Here is a sample list of foods and drinks you can enjoy to avoid staining:
Breakfast
- Plain Yogurt
- Bagels
- Egg White
- Porridge
- White Tea
- Apple Juice
Lunch
- Sandwiches
- Rice
- Vegetables
- Clear Soup
- White Cheese
- Plain Pasta
- Cream Sauce
Dinner
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Whitefish
- Potatoes
- White Pizza (cream sauce)
- Cauliflower
Snacks
- Chips
- Bananas
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Pears
What to Avoid
As stated above, you will want to avoid any dark, vibrant-coloured, acidic foods and drinks. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Will this stain my white shirt?” – if you answer yes, it can also stain your teeth. Here is a quick list of foods to stay away from (for at least 48 hours):
- Dark Chocolate
- Blueberries and Similar Fruits
- Fruit Juice
- Red Wine
- Black Tea
- Coffee
- Tomato Sauce
- Turmeric and Curry
- Soy Sauce
- Dark Beer
If you do partake in any of these, it’s not game over. Teeth staining is a gradual process and does not happen from drinking one cup of coffee. Rinse your mouth with plenty of water and brush your teeth right after eating one of these foods to help remove any residue left in your mouth.
Professional teeth whitening technicians also recommend stopping smoking and chewing tobacco, as these are also teeth-staining culprits that can negate the teeth whitening treatment efforts. Smokers who are not ready to quit completely should try nicotine strips or e-cigarettes which do not harm your teeth’s colour.
Conclusion
Choosing to undergo a professional teeth whitening treatment is no small task. It comes with a cost you don’t want to have to keep shelling out once a week. With that, comes proper aftercare post-whitening treatment. Stick to white, bland foods for at least 48 hours and try to limit staining foods as much as you can to prolong the longevity of your pearly whites.
Looking to become a certified teeth whitening technician? Register now at Teeth Whitening Academy and get certified in just one day, all from the comfort of your own home.