What Can I Eat and Drink After Teeth Whitening?

Professional teeth whitening is one of the best investments you can make for a more beautiful, youthful, healthier-looking smile. Once you’ve locked in the benefits of your whitening treatment, you want to keep your smile looking its best. And that involves knowing foods and drinks to limit to reduce the risk of future staining.

As a leading provider of professional teeth whitening treatments using the most advanced techniques and technology, Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center wants you to achieve optimal satisfaction following their whitening treatments. In this post, our team offers some simple tips and advice to ensure your results last as long as possible.

1. Eat light — literally

After whitening, your teeth are more porous than usual, which means they can absorb stains more easily for a few days while they recover. To reduce discoloration, stick to foods and drinks that are naturally light in color. 

Opt for meals and snacks featuring foods like grilled chicken or fish, eggs, cauliflower, mashed potatoes, rice, and pasta with white sauces. Avoid tomato sauces as they can stain. For drinks, water, milk, and coconut water are your safest bets. These options are gentle on your enamel and won’t leave behind pigments. Avoid dark or acidic beverages, like coffee, tea, red wine, and energy drinks.

2. Watch those spices

Spices can liven up the foods we eat, but some of those spices also contain deep pigments that can stain teeth. Turmeric, cayenne, paprika, chili powders, and even cinnamon can all leave behind pigmented residue that can sink in and stain your teeth. You don’t need to cut these spices out entirely — just be mindful of their potential effects.

3. Drink with a straw

Once that initial recovery stage is over, it’s still a good idea to sip with a straw when you indulge in pigmented drinks, including coffee and tea (yes, even green tea). 

Using a straw prevents beverages from directly contacting your tooth surfaces, helping preserve your whitening results. You might even consider carrying a stainless steel or other reusable straw with you in your bag or purse for on-the-go protection.

3. Enjoy foods that naturally clean teeth

Some foods act like natural toothbrushes, whisking away food residues that cling to teeth and cause staining. Crunchy fruits and vegetables, like apples, celery, and carrots, stimulate saliva production and gently polish your tooth surfaces as you chew. White cheeses can also help by promoting saliva and neutralizing acids that make teeth more prone to staining.

4. Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water offers lots of benefits for your overall health, but it’s essential for your teeth, too. Water helps wash away stain-causing particles and keeps your mouth clean between meals. It supplements natural saliva production, avoiding dry mouth and the complications it can cause.

5. Do not smoke

Foods and beverages aren’t the only things that can take a toll on your pearly whites. Smoking and vaping coat your teeth with pigments and chemicals that can rapidly cause stains and discoloration. Tobacco products also increase your risk of gum disease and tooth loss. Find tips to quit at SmokeFree.gov. 

6. Rinse (do not brush) after meals

Rinsing isn’t exactly a food tip, but it’s still critical for maintaining the results of your whitening treatment. Rinsing after meals and snacks (and even after drinking pigmented beverages) helps wash away pigments that could otherwise stain your teeth.

It might be tempting to brush instead, but brushing right after meals can damage your tooth enamel, which temporarily softens when we eat. You should rinse after eating or drinking foods or beverages that are acidic, like coffee, wine (red or white), citrus fruits and juices, and foods containing tomatoes.

Maintain your beautiful smile

Professional teeth whitening can enhance both your smile and confidence. Best of all, you can enjoy long-lasting results with just a little added attention to your routine.

To learn more about teeth whitening treatments and how they can improve your smile, call 248-681-8100 or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today.