Foods To Avoid After Teeth Whitening

What you eat after teeth whitening in Chevy Chase matters tremendously and can influence how long the results will last. And here's why.

Teeth whitening products use cleaning agents like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to penetrate the enamel and remove stains. During this process, your enamel will become more porous, meaning that they are more exposed to staining.

While this effect only lasts for about 24 to 48 hours, what you eat after teeth whitening can influence the effectiveness of the treatment.

With that in mind, here is a list of foods that are best to be avoided after a teeth whitening treatment.

What NOT to Eat After Teeth Whitening

Try to stay away from these foods for about two days after teeth whitening:

Coffee and Tea

It can be hard to give up the pleasure of savoring a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, but this is one of the most important things you can do after a whitening treatment.

Both coffee and tea contain tannins, an organic substance that builds up over time and makes your teeth appear darker. Your teeth are more porous after a whitening treatment and more likely to get stained because of tannins.

If you simply cannot give up this habit, try to sip your coffee through a straw to limit contact with your teeth.

Chocolate and Artificially-Colored Sweets

Not only can these foods stain your teeth, but they can also cause cavities. Your enamel is more sensitive after teeth whitening and more prone to erosion and decay.

Wine

A lot of people assume that it's safe to drink white wine after teeth whitening because it's not as pigmented as red wine. While lighter in color, white wine is still very acidic and can break down the enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to staining.

Dark Fruits

Dark fruits such as cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and so on have a lot of colored pigment that can stain your teeth. If they are also acidic, then they can make your teeth more prone to erosion.

Soft Drinks

As a rule of thumb, you should avoid soft drinks in general as their high acidic content can break down your enamel. But try to stay away from them, especially after a teeth whitening treatment.

What Can You Eat After Teeth Whitening

As you can see, the list of foods you should avoid is not very long, and most people can easily give them up for a couple of days.

Try to stick to a healthy diet that includes the following:

Fish and chicken
Yogurt
White cheese
Pasta and rice
Fresh fruits and veggies
Lots of water

‍Ready for a Teeth Whitening Treatment? Call Us!

Do you want to improve the aspect of your teeth and get a brighter smile? At Morrison Cosmetic Dentistry in Chevy Chase, we offer teeth whitening treatment using the best products and technology.

Get in touch with us online to book your appointment.