When you professionally whiten your teeth at your dentist’s office, you can look forward to removing up to eight shades of discoloration in about an hour. With a professional take-home kit, you can experience the same amazing results in about two weeks. Still, whitening your smile is an investment in both your time and your money, so naturally, you’ll probably want to maintain your results for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, however, re-staining your teeth in the first few days after whitening is very easy. Thus, to prevent new discoloration from depositing on your smile, you should eat what is known as a “white” diet. Here are a few foods that are safe to enjoy and some you should avoid to keep your gleaming grin glowing for as long as you can!
Foods to Avoid
The good news about eating a white diet is that you’ll only need to do it for about three days after your whitening. In the meantime, here is a list of foods you should avoid to protect your results.
Dark Beverages
Dark Beverages like tea, coffee, juice, cola, red wine, and colorful sports drinks can leave behind deposits of discoloration that stain your smile, especially if your enamel hasn’t had time to properly reharden. Though you will only need to skip these drinks temporarily, consider quitting them entirely, as they are often one of the main culprits that cause stains in the first place!
Vibrant Fruits and Vegetables
Vibrant Fruits and veggies are great for your body, but they aren’t ideal for newly whitened teeth. An excellent rule of thumb to follow when trying to determine which ones to temporarily avoid is if a food would stain a white shirt, it will likely stain your teeth. Thus, be sure to hold off on things like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and carrots for a few days, and swap them out for other options like apples, bananas, pears and cucumbers.
Be aware that citrus fruits may be less likely to stain your teeth than dark berries, but because they are so acidic they can make freshly whitened teeth very sensitive, so hold off on these for a few days, too.
Artificial Dyes
Any foods with artificial dyes such as hard candies, red velvet cake, rainbow cereals, and festive sweets can also deposit color on your newly whitened teeth. If you will be attending a special event that may have a food that fits in this category on the menu, be sure to book your whitening about two weeks in advance so your teeth are ready to shine for your big day!
Colorful Sauces
Sauces like curries, marinara, and soy are all delicious, but they can stain your teeth, too. Therefore, skip these garnishes for now and save the savories for a few days until your teeth are ready.
White Diet Approved
Now that you’ve got a good idea which foods to avoid for a few days, here’s a list of green-light options that won’t stain your newly whitened smile:
- Protein such as eggs, chicken, white fish, and pork
- Noodles without sauce
- White potatoes
- Cream of wheat or plain oatmeal
- Milk, cheese, or plain yogurt
- Water
Remember, even though professional whitening can remove up to eight shades of discoloration in one treatment it is still possible for you to re-stain them, especially in the first few days after your procedure. Thus, to keep your smile looking its best for as long as possible, stick to a white diet for about three days, and you’ll have a gorgeous, glowing grin going forward!
About Dr. Mitchell
Dr. Robert Mitchell is a skilled dentist with a keen eye for aesthetics. He is one of only a few dentists in Texas to be inducted as a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and a member of the Crown Council, an international round table of top dentists. He’s also an active member of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association and the Dallas County Dental Society.
If you’re ready to have a whiter, brighter smile, contact North Dallas Cosmetic Dentistry for a consultation today, and let us help you get the gorgeous, glowing grin you deserve! To schedule your appointment, please visit our website or call us directly at 972-233-1311.
