Teeth whitening is becoming a popular way to remove years of stains from teeth. However, maintaining the results can be a challenge, especially if your lifestyle decisions are working against the treatment. Your diet, especially, plays a significant role in the longevity of teeth whitening results.
If you want to explore the connection between your dietary choices and the fading of teeth whitening treatments, continue reading.
1. Coffee, Tea, and Wine
While technically three different beverages, all of them have something in common: tannins. These are a type of plant compound naturally found in many foods and beverages and give them a dark color and bitter flavor. Tannins also happen to stain teeth with alarming regularity, so it’s best to avoid them.
2. Acidic Foods
Food and drink with high acidity can not only stain your teeth but can also make them more sensitive. The whitening agent infused with hydrogen peroxide penetrates the enamel of your teeth and removes the stains from under the surface.
After this process, your teeth need time to recuperate. Biting into an orange or munching on a pickle might leave your teeth feeling raw and interrupt their recovery.
3. Dark Sauces and Condiments
Sauces and condiments like tomato sauce, soy sauce, and mustard are great ways to spruce up your food. However, they also contain tannins and other chemicals that will stain your teeth. In the case of tomato sauce, it’s a double whammy of staining power and acidity.
4. Dyed Foods
There are lots of foods that look appetizing because they’re full of attractive dyes made specifically for food. These dyes don’t contribute to taste but are concentrated enough to change the color of an entire bottle or batter with a few drops.
If you’ve ever eaten a popsicle only to discover that your tongue and teeth had turned neon blue, that’s why.
5. Dark Fruit and Vegetables
The theme should be emerging by now. Dark colors are a no-go after your teeth whitening treatment. The vibrant colors stored in the skin, juice, and leaves of fruits and vegetables are no exception.
Blueberries, purple cabbage, beets, dark greens like spinach and kale, and pomegranates are all examples of dark foods to avoid that would otherwise be good for you.
It’s important to note that this isn’t a forever situation. A couple of days after your treatment, when the enamel of your teeth is less porous, you can begin reintroducing these foods again in moderate amounts.
Refraining from staining food and drink after your teeth whitening will ensure that you don’t immediately undo the hard work of your dentist or the treatment you paid for. Avoiding these foods and continuing a good oral health care routine through brushing and flossing will keep your teeth looking bright for months!
About the Author
Dr. Bryan Villescas is a proficient and professional dentist with a patient-first philosophy. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Afterward, he continued his education through multiple professional organizations like the Academy of General Dentistry where he received over 400 hours of additional instruction. To schedule a teeth whitening treatment at Caring Way Dentistry, call (941) 627-9900 or visit the website to learn more.