So you just got your teeth whitened for a bright and shining smile this upcoming summer? While it may look beautiful right now, it’s important that you exercise caution in what you eat and drink to make the most out of your teeth whitening procedure. Teeth whitening isn’t a permanent treatment, so you have to do your due diligence to make it last as long as possible. With that in mind, we’ve gathered five foods and drinks you should avoid after getting your teeth whitened. If you would like to get your smile ready for this summer, call Gentle Touch Smiles today to schedule an appointment.

Coffee

“Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my morning coffee” is a common refrain heard in offices and worksites around the world. Unfortunately, there are few things that are a bigger cause of stained teeth. This is especially the case for freshly whitened teeth. Dentists recommend waiting at least 48 hours after whitening treatment before drinking coffee or other dark foods and liquids. If you need your java fix to get through the day, use a straw to minimize the amount of contact the coffee has with your teeth.

Red Wine

Just like coffee, red wine has a nasty habit of staining teeth. While much has been made of red wine’s health benefits, it’s important that you don’t overlook its staining power when trying to preserve your pearly whites. Although it’s nice to kick back and relax after a long day of work with a nice glass of merlot, it’s recommended you avoid drinking red wine for as long as possible after your whitening treatment to preserve your fresh smile longer.

Dark Chocolate

Many studies over the years have found that dark chocolate is a powerful antioxidant that can provide you with many different health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and reducing risk of heart disease. With that said, dark chocolate can also undo your newly whitened teeth quickly. While you don’t have to totally give up dark chocolate forever after getting your teeth whitened, dentists recommend holding off on eating it for at least the first week after your whitening treatment.

Dark Sauces

If you have been following along, you’ve likely noticed that all of these entries have something in common — a dark coloring. Something that people may not think has an effect on their teeth is the various sauces they put on their food. Unfortunately, those dark sauces should also be avoided in the week after teeth whitening. Some examples of dark sauces to avoid include tomato sauce from pizza or pasta, stews, soy sauce, marinades, BBQ sauce, and balsamic vinaigrette. Your dentist will be able to give you more advice about dietary restrictions after your treatment.

Acidic Foods

It’s not all dark foods and liquids that can ruin a newly whitened smile. Because bleaching agents are used in the whitening process, it leaves your enamel temporarily weakened. When you eat things like oranges, lemons, limes, pickles, soda, and the like, it will increase the acidity in your saliva, which can damage your teeth.

Whitening your teeth is a great way to get the bright smile you’ve dreamed of, but it’s important that you take care of it to make it last as long as possible. If you are looking for teeth whitening service here in Wilmington, call Gentle Touch Smiles today to schedule your appointment.