Teeth whitening treatments are a prevalent procedure where a dentist applies a whitening agent to a patient’s teeth – the procedure has the potential to give a patient a much whiter and brighter smile in general. Below, we look at what to eat after teeth whitening.
What To Eat After Teeth Whitening?
Given that white teeth are appraised so highly in our culture, this procedure has become one of the frequent reasons that people visit the dentist. However, some care is needed in order to maintain the results of this procedure. Otherwise, you might find that you’ll have to return for repeat treatments in order to maintain your results in the long term.
If you’re interested in receiving teeth whitening or already have a procedure planned, then take a look at this brief guide outlining the right kinds of foods to eat after the procedure to maintain your results.
The White Diet
The White Diet refers to the diet of food and beverages physicians recommend to eat directly following a teeth whitening procedure. In general, it is recommended that you avoid heavily acidic foods or foods that have high amounts of coloration. Coffee would be an example of a substance that checks both boxes.
After teeth whitening, a patient’s teeth become slightly porous, and an element of them known as the dentin layer is exposed. This means that their color can be more easily impacted by foreign substances.
It takes only 48 hours for one’s teeth to normalize, and following the white diet during that time period can mean that you can avoid negatively impacting your whitening results.
Food and Drinks to Avoid
There are several foods that you’ll want to avoid when following the white diet. The list is more comprehensive than just these foods, but these are good places to start.
- Wine – Wine, especially red wine, is high in both acidity and pigmentation. Drinking wine directly after your procedure can be highly harmful to your results.
- Coffee and Tea – Coffee and tea are both generally acidic. Coffee, in particular, is very acidic and contains tannins and pigmentations that can impact your results.
- Candy and Chocolate – These substances have high amounts of refined sugars that can lead to the decay and erosion of your teeth following your procedure.
- Soda – Like candy, soda contains high amounts of refined sugar. In addition, because it’s carbonated, soda is very acidic.
- Dark-colored fruits – Dark fruits such as cherries and blueberries have the potential to stain and harm your teeth. Avoid eating them and the juices that are derived from them for 48 hours following your procedure.
Food and Drinks to Eat
Just as there are foods that are better to avoid following your procedure, there are also foods that are beneficial to eat. Or, at least, they aren’t harmful to your results. Some examples of such foods include:
- Lean Protein – lean protein foods such as fish, chicken, and ___ typically are low in acids and fine to consume after a teeth whitening procedure.
- Grains – Grains, such as bread, cereals, and other substances, are also typically good to eat after your procedure.
- White Cheese and Yogurt – White cheese and yogurt is another food substance that should be harmless to your results.
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – Fresh fruits and veggies are never a harmful choice for your health. Aside from dark-colored fruits, eating these to your heart’s content should be harmless.
- Fresh Water – Water is another substance that should register no harmful effects on your health when consumed abundantly.
You can ask your dentist about specific foods that you might have questions about as well. Clarifying rather than not will likely serve you in the long run in terms of maximizing the results of your procedure.
Other Ways to Protect Your Results
There are other steps you can take to protect your results from your whitening procedure. One thing that can’t hurt is to quit smoking.
Nicotine is a highly toxic substance that can cause the enamel of one’s teeth to turn yellow. Quitting smoking can work wonders for both your dental health and health overall.
Regularly scheduling cleanings and other dental checkups can also help enhance your results. Due diligence with these checkups will overall lend to enhancing whatever benefits you might receive from a whitening procedure.
The Teeth Whitening Experts of Riverside
Tropic Dental Care is the foremost destination for teeth whitening in the Riverside area. If you’re interested in receiving this type of procedure, contact our cosmetic dentist in order to set up an appointment and get your teeth whitening journey started.
