A confident smile is a key to making a good first impression in any situation, to unlocking doors to opportunities, relationships, and a better level of self-esteem throughout your everyday life. That’s why people invest in professional teeth whitening in Tempe, AZ, every year.
This non-invasive procedure helps make natural tooth enamel shine brighter and stay whiter, but in order to get the long-lasting, noticeable results you really want to see, you’ll need to stay vigilant, especially concerning the foods you eat.
Since whitening agents open the pores of your teeth to allow a cleaning agent inside, your pearly whites are far more porous than usual within the first 48 hours after the procedure. This means that ingesting the wrong foods during this period of time could re-stain your teeth, ruining the whole whitening process. There are many foods that should be avoided, but fortunately, there’s still plenty of delicious meals and snacks you can enjoy while waiting for those pores to close up again.
Foods You Can Eat After Your Teeth Whitening
After a teeth whitening, it’s always best to follow what’s referred to as a “white diet” for at least 48 hours. This diet involves eating exclusively light-colored foods that won’t stain your teeth or seep into the open pores, allowing the pores to have plenty of time to close back up before exposing teeth to potential staining elements again. Some of the foods included on this “can-have” list include:
- Bananas
- Skim milk
- White rice
- White potatoes
- Cauliflower
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Egg whites
- White bread
- White pasta
In fact, most foods that are free from color of any sort are good to eat after your teeth whitening’s been completed. If you have dietary restrictions that might inhibit the implementation of a “white diet,” don’t worry – your doctor can help you find a suitable way to keep your teeth looking bright and flawless while seeing to your specific needs.
Foods to Avoid After Whitening Your Teeth
Over time, any type of food can cause teeth to dull and yellow. However, there are some foods that stain teeth far more than others, and those are what you should be trying to avoid directly after you’ve finished your procedure. Some of the most common foods you probably encounter in your everyday life that should be avoided after your teeth whitening include:
- Coffee
- tea
- Red wine
- Red meat
- Res sauces
- Colorful soda
- Fruit juice
- Berries
- Chocolate
- Candies
In short, if you’d worry about a food staining a new white shirt, then you should avoid it. Of course, it isn’t just food and drinks you should avoid. Studies show that smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products cause teeth to yellow more quickly. These products don’t only stain your teeth themselves, but also weaken your enamel to make teeth more susceptible to other sources of staining as well. If you’re someone who uses tobacco, it may be a good idea to consider an alternative after whitening your teeth if you really want that new, shiny smile to last.
It’s also worth noting that patients who contend with sensitive teeth on a regular basis may find that whitening their teeth temporarily makes the problem worse. In this case, there are a few more foods that should be avoided, including citrus fruits and other acidic foods, any form of carbonated beverages, and particularly hot or cold drinks. These limitations only need to be heeded until the sensitivity passes.
A Smile That Lasts
Taking the step to whitening your teeth and eating the right foods will set you up with a beautiful set of pearly whites you can really be proud of. Your smile is important, and having a support system that keeps each and every tooth healthy from roots to enamel is a must, and Tempe Smile Design is here to provide you with all the care you need.
Schedule an appointment to get a brighter, better smile and take advantage of the emergency benefits offered to each and every client that enters our system.