Foods and Drinks to Avoid After Your Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment

You finally got that professional teeth whitening treatment at our Reality Bites Dental practice that you’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Your smile is sparkling and you’re excited every time you look in the mirror.

Now what? How do you keep your smile white and beautiful?

You can start by practicing good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit us twice a year for professional teeth cleanings to get rid of every trace of plaque and bacteria.

You can also be careful what you put in your mouth each day. Here’s a look at what foods and drinks you should avoid after your teeth whitening treatment. For the first 48 hours after treatment, your teeth are the most vulnerable to darkening from these foods, so you should hold them at bay entirely.

After a couple of days, you’re welcome to resume eating and drinking these substances, but to protect the whitening effect, you should brush your teeth or at least rinse them with water as soon as possible afterward.

Dark-colored drinks

Some of the most common causes of teeth staining include coffee, tea, and soda — they contain dark pigments that can get trapped in the craters of your teeth and lead to stains. Stay away from grape juice as well.

Acidic foods

The enamel in your teeth is slightly weakened during the teeth whitening process, so you’ll want to avoid acidic foods that could weaken it even further, increasing your sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Stay away from tomatoes, pineapples, citrus fruits, processed meats, and pickled foods.

Dark sauces

Here’s a good rule of thumb: If what you’re about to eat will stain a white shirt, you should abstain right after getting your teeth whitened. Dark sauces, including tomato sauce and soy sauce, definitely fall into this category.

Dark fruits and vegetables

You should avoid darker fruits and veggies as well. This includes various berries, purple cabbage, grapes, beets, cherries, dark and leafy greens, and pomegranates. Watch out for fruit and vegetable juices as well.

Foods containing dyes

Stay away from any food or drink with added colorant or dye, no matter if it’s natural or artificial. This includes popsicles, sports drinks, candy, and more. If you’re not sure, check the label.

Sugary foods

Refined sugars (such as those found in cakes, cookies, candy, ice cream, and soda) can cause tooth decay, cavities, discoloration, and enamel erosion, especially when your teeth are sensitive right after the whitening process. Mark and avoid.

It may seem like a tough order to follow to avoid all these foods and drinks, but your teeth and your smile will thank you!

If you haven’t yet had your teeth whitened, the new year is a perfect time to get started. This month (January of 2024), you can get the Zoom Whitening Treatment for just $399 (regularly $499)! Just call our Reality Bites Dental office in San Antonio at 210-399-5951 or use our online scheduler to book your own appointment anytime!