Foods to Avoid (and a Few to Enjoy) After Professional Teeth Whitening

If you’re planning on professionally whitening your teeth, naturally you’ll want to make your results last as long as possible. But unfortunately, they’re easy to re-stain in the first few days after treatment. Thus, it is important to temporarily eat a “white,” non-staining diet.

Here are a few foods that you should skip for the first few days after whitening, and a few that get the green light from your dentist!

Foods to Avoid

Nobody likes dietary restrictions, however, to keep your professional whitening results looking great, you should avoid foods and beverages in these categories for at least a few days after your treatment.

Dark Beverages

Dark beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, cola, juices, and sports drinks can all deposit color on your teeth, so it’s best to avoid drinking these for at least a few days after your whitening treatment. If you were a coffee drinker prior to your procedure, you may want to consider quitting altogether, as this can contribute to stains long after the initial first few days.

Artificial Colors

Dyed foods can stain your clothes as well as your teeth, so it’s best to avoid them with your newly restored smile. Things like red velvet cake, hard candies, and other treats with food coloring are common culprits for discoloration, so be sure to avoid them for as long as possible.

Dark Fruits and Vegetables

Not all fruits and vegetables are created equally when it comes to colors. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and carrots all can leave behind color on your teeth. Thus, be sure to stick to colorless varieties like apples, bananas and pears for a few days after whitening.

Citrus

Citrus fruits may not leave behind much color, but they are highly acidic and that can make newly whitened teeth even more sensitive than they already are. Therefore, be sure to wait for as long as possible before having any of these fruits or juices, or at least until you’ve stopped experiencing sensitivity following your treatment.

Colorful Sauces

Finally, sauces are a great way to flavor a variety of foods, but they can stain your teeth, too. Avoid anything tomato-based, soy sauce, curries, or anything else that would stain your shirt, as these can easily stain your teeth again, too!

Okay to Enjoy

While there are a few foods you should skip for a few days, there are still plenty that are okay to enjoy. These include:

• Proteins like eggs, chicken, white fish, and pork
• Noodles without sauce
• White potatoes
• Cream of wheat or plain oatmeal
• Dairy such as milk, cheese, or plain yogurt
• Plenty of water

Remember, whitening your teeth is a great way to remove years of stains and discoloration; however, if you aren’t careful in the first few days after treatment you can easily re-stain them. To make your results last, be sure to avoid these dark foods and beverages and stick to a bland diet for the first few days.

About Our Practice

At Dental Health & Wellness Boston, we understand what makes a beautiful smile, but we also know that sometimes you might need a little help getting there. That’s why Dr. Smith and Dr. Budd offer KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching™, as well as a variety of other cosmetic procedures. If you’d like to remove up to 16 shades of discoloration from your teeth with a powerful combination of at-home and in-office whitening treatments, please schedule a consultation today by visiting our website or calling us at 617-742-1220.