If you’ve been looking into getting teeth whitening, you’ve probably heard a lot about how incredible it can be. Within a single appointment, a dentist can give you a smile up to eight shades whiter than it was before!
Those results can also last for years if you take care of them. One of the most vulnerable points for your teeth whitening treatment is just after you get it, so it’s worth watching what you eat in the days immediately after you see your dentist. Here’s why that is and what foods would be best for you to avoid.
Why Am I Vulnerable?
The bleaching solution that your dentist uses to whiten teeth needs to be able to penetrate deep under the surface. To do that, part of the work that the solution does is to open up the pores in your enamel.
These pores should stay open for a few days after the whitening treatment, which means that during this time pigments from the food that you eat will penetrate much deeper than they would otherwise. This can lead to much faster discoloration than you’d be likely to experience under other circumstances.
Which Foods Should I Avoid?
With that in mind, you should do what you can to avoid any foods that could potentially dye your teeth.
Many popular drinks are the worst offenders in this regard. Coffee, red wine, and soda are all filled with dark pigments that can soak into your enamel, which means that you might do well to stick to water in the days after your procedure. If you really need your caffeine fix, clear drinks like Celsius could be the better way to go.
Dark, acidic foods may also discolor your smile if you aren’t careful. Many times these are sauces, like soy sauce or tomato sauce, that can subtly change the color of your teeth.
Certain fruits can cause similar issues, like berries. If you want something sweet, you’ll have to be careful to avoid any sticky fruit pies for the next few days.
It’s not uncommon for the results from professional teeth whitening to endure for over 3 years, which isn’t bad at all for a treatment that only takes an hour or two. Keep this guide in mind, and you can have those results last for years to come!
About Our Practice
At Oakton Dentistry by Design, we’re proud to say that everyone on our team is deeply committed to offering all of our patients the highest quality of dental care possible. Our dentists allow us to offer patients care tailored to their unique oral health needs and to exceed every expectation they have for what a dentist can do.
If you have any questions about teeth whitening, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (703) 938-4300.