You finally decided to spoil yourself with a professional teeth whitening treatment. So you understand about the newfound confidence and the inability to stop smiling that naturally happens after you get your teeth whitened. But you also know that quite unfortunately, teeth whitening is not permanent.
Touch-ups will be needed from time to time to retain the brightness of your teeth. But don’t fret! There are some secrets for keeping your smile bright and beautiful.
Believe it or not, one of the main ways to protect the whiteness of your smile from fading is to watch what you eat. That’s right! Call it a diet for your smile.
Diet for Your Smile
Many of the foods and beverages that can stain the smile have intense color pigments that can attach to the enamel—the white, outer part of the tooth. Acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages are also staining culprits.
If you want to retain the beautiful radiance of your smile, avoid the following foods and beverages:
- White and red wine
- Sports drinks
- Black teas and coffee
- Carbonated drinks (both light and dark-colored sodas)
- Strongly-colored foods
- Berries
- Curry, tomato, and soy sauces
Those who avoid staining foods and beverages may be able to wait a full year, or even longer, before having to get another whitening treatment or a touch-up. On the other hand, people who expose their teeth to the above foods and beverages may notice their bright smile fading in as little as a month.
Foods That Can Combat Staining
Good news! Just as there are foods that can stain the teeth, there are foods that can fight staining.
Eating dark green vegetables (like broccoli, spinach, or kale) at the beginning of a meal will create a protective film over the teeth that can help shield them from staining foods. Other fruits and vegetables that fight staining include carrots, celery, cauliflower, and apples.
To combat acidic foods, drink a glass of milk or eat hard cheese. These can both neutralize acid and strengthen your pearly whites!
More Things You Can Do
We understand that avoiding certain foods can be a huge challenge, so when you do have something that can stain, a very simple thing to do is brush immediately after. Keep one of those care kits that we give you after your hygiene visits in your purse or car. That way, even if you’re at work you have a toothbrush handy.
You can also use take-home custom whitening trays. This means you’ll be able to do touch ups when you’re sitting on your couch catching up on your favorite shows. *Pro tip: use the take-home trays after your preventative visit with our hygienist for ultimate whitening results.
Another trick for avoiding the stains from beverages is to use a straw. It’ll keep the staining harm away from the front of your teeth.
We definitely understand the need to keep your smile white, so ask about our Brighten Teeth for Life Program when you complete a professional whitening treatment to receive complimentary whitening gel at your preventative visits for the rest of your life.
When you come to see us, Dr. James D. Powell and our team in Palmdale, California, are more than happy to give you further advice on keeping your pearly whites bright and beautiful! Contact Exceptional Dentistry at 661.349.7725 today to schedule your next visit with us. Get ready to smile!
