Did you recently whiten your teeth and are super scared of how to maintain its whiteness? Don’t worry – we have got you covered with our list of 5 things you should avoid to ensure your teeth-whitening procedure doesn’t go to waste

Maintaining white teeth is super easy! You just have to carefully screen what goes into your mouth! So here is our list of 5 such food items and beverages that you must avoid after your teeth-whitening procedure to avoid any stains. Read on to know more.

 

What To Avoid After Whitening Your Teeth?

• Heavily colored food

There is a vast range of foods to avoid after whitening your teeth, just as there is a wide range of colored beverages to avoid. Dark-hued sauces like barbecue or tomato sauces, colorful spices like paprika and turmeric, colored candies like Gems, Skittles, and M&Ms, chocolate, and highly pigmented vegetables, fruits, and berries, fruits, and vegetables like pomegranate, mangoes, tomatoes, and beets are all examples of dark-colored food items that should be actively avoided after any teeth-whitening procedure.

If you are confused about what you should avoid, just think of it this way – if the food is going to stain a white shirt, it will stain your white teeth. So to avoid such a disaster, choose light-colored food like tofu, grilled chicken breast (without any sauce), cheese, white fish, pasta, and cauliflower instead.

• Dark Colored Beverages

Teeth stains can be caused by colored beverages like tea, coffee, and red wine. Red wine stains teeth the most, especially if it’s tannic, big, and bold. This leads to big and bold stains that can hamper your teeth-whitening process.

The staining fraternity’s other most famous duo is coffee and tea. This is due to the presence of tannins in coffee and tea, an organic chemical that can yellow your teeth. Thus, even if it means droopy eyelids at work, avoid them for the first 24 hours after teeth whitening when the teeth are most prone to stains. After that period, you can use a straw for drinking your coffee or tea to avoid your freshly whitening teeth from coming into contact with the liquid, thus avoiding stains.

• Acidic Food

Because of the bleach included in the teeth-whitening procedure, the strength of your tooth enamel is slightly compromised. During this time, acidic foods and beverages, like processed meat, pickled food, and citrus fruits, might erode your enamel more. This can result in increased sensitivity and a higher chance of re-staining. So to avoid discomfort and protect your newly whitened smile, avoid acidic foods for at least 48 hours after teeth whitening.

• Tobacco

Smoking tobacco in the form of cigarettes or any other products is terrible for your oral health in general, and it can destroy a fresh set of white teeth. Tobacco products contain nicotine and tar, which easily mix with saliva and discolor the teeth.

E-cigarettes and vaping can be more minor staining for your teeth after teeth whitening. However, they too are bad for your oral health and should be avoided as much as possible.

• Excessive Brushing

Even after teeth whitening, you must clean your teeth regularly to keep them gleaming white. However, make sure that you do not brush your teeth too hard to keep them sparkling. After teeth whitening, sensitivity is frequent, so brush your teeth as gently as possible and with a soft bristles toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. To help with sensitivity, use mouthwash and toothpaste designed specifically for sensitive teeth.

What Food Can I Choose?

Now that you are more educated on what you have to avoid after teeth-whitening, here are some of the food products that you can blindly trust – they won’t affect your whitening at all!

• Tofu, Chicken, Fish

Lean proteins like tofu, chicken, and fish are the perfect food items for keeping your teeth clean. These are pure white and will not affect your teeth’ color. Just make sure you consume them with a few colorful herbs, spices, and sauces. Stick to salt, pepper, oregano, and white sauces to be safe.

• Pasta, Bread, Rice

Grains in pasta, bread, and rice are mainly safe to consume after teeth-whitening. Just make sure you check on their list of ingredients for any food coloring or molasses. These food colors and dark molasses must be avoided to avoid staining.

• Fresh Vegetables And Fruits

Light-colored fresh vegetables and fruits are perfectly safe too. Fruits like apples, bananas, and pears, vegetables like mushrooms, potatoes, and cauliflowers can be included in your diet.

Conclusion

It is pretty easy to maintain the whiteness of your teeth after your teeth-whitening procedure. All you have to do is be careful of what you consume – ditch the dark-colored products, embrace the light-colored food and beverages, and you are good to go! We hope this article was helpful for you and helped you to maintain your freshly whitened teeth!