When it comes to whitening your teeth, it can be a costly and time-consuming process.
It often requires some whitening gel that you will have to wait to set in before you eat again. But how long can you wait before eating normally after teeth whitening?
However, there are many other things that you’ll need to consider before you attempt to eat.
You’ll need to consider what food you are putting in your mouth, as it could lead to staining your teeth again.
You’ll also need to avoid acidic foods that might wear away your teeth over time.
So what is the maximum length of time that you should leave your teeth after whitening? What foods should you avoid after you have whitened your teeth?
What are the worst foods for staining your teeth? Well, if you want the answers to all of these questions and more, we would suggest that you keep reading.
Why Should You Whiten Your Teeth?
There are a lot of reasons that someone might whiten their teeth, one of the main ones being cosmetic.
A white smile will look a lot more friendly than one that is slightly yellow or brown.
It has also been proven that a bright white smile makes the person look a lot more youthful.
Another reason might be to hide a more serious issue such as tooth decay.
Again, this could be the cause of much dissatisfaction and could lead to a massive loss of self-confidence.
But how does the whitening process affect the constitution of your teeth in general?
How Long Do You Have To Wait To Eat After Whitening Your Teeth?
Normally, dentists and other oral experts would recommend not eating foods that could stain your teeth up to 72 hours after you have had your teeth whitened.
However, you can drink soups and other liquid meals, as long as they are through a straw.
Once this time has elapsed, then you can resume eating these foods again.
We would recommend that you avoid eating hardened foods such as bread and potato chips, as they can get compacted in between your teeth and cause some of the whitening gel to wear off.
What Foods Should You Avoid After Having Your Teeth Whitened?
Having your teeth whitened can be an expensive process and you will not want to ruin the effects of it by eating food that will stain your teeth.
Here are a few foods that you’ll need to avoid:
- Tea – this drink is known to stain your teeth excessively, even after you drink one cup.
- Coffee – this will stain your teeth even more than tea, as it contains tannins, which will work to quickly discolour your teeth.
- Red wine – this stuff will stain your teeth even after a few glasses.
- Cola – this is a very acidic drink that will not only stain your teeth, but it will start to erode the enamel over time.
- Foods with colorants – this will include things like beef, soy sauce, ketchup and chocolate.
- Foods with high sugar content – will include cakes, cookies, and ice cream. These foods can create tooth staining bacteria that will discolour your teeth and cause some tooth erosion.
One method of being able to test whether or not a food will stain your teeth is whether or not it will leave a stain on a clean white shirt.
If so, then it will more than likely leave a stain on your teeth.
What Are Good Foods To Eat After Whitening Your Teeth?
The choices of foods that you eat after having your teeth whitened will be severely limited, however, this restricted diet will only last you around 24 hours.
Here is a list of foods that we recommend you stick to after whitening:
- Skinless turkey and chicken – if you remove the fat from this meat, then you will have a lean protein that will not stain your teeth.
- White fish without sauce – you’ll need to make sure that it is not drenched in sauces that contain artificial colorants.
- Pasta, rice and bread – make sure that none of the pasta or rice contains any tomato sauce, as this will stain your teeth. It also has trace amounts of acid that will erode some of your tooth enamel.
- Egg whites – getting rid of the yokes will stop your teeth from getting stained with their natural colour.
- White cheeses – if you eat these on their own without additional sauces, then they will not stain your teeth.
- Potatoes – you can have these in any natural variety, whether they are boiled, roasted or mashed.
- Cauliflower – again this is a great natural vegetable that will not stain your teeth.
- Skimmed milk – This will not only stop your teeth from being stained, but it will actually preserve some of the whiteness.
What Other Methods Can You Use After Whitening Your Teeth?
After you have whitened your teeth, you might be tempted to brush them straight away.
However, if you want to do this, then you should make sure to use a soft-bristled brush and that you should do so in a circular motion.
As for toothpaste, you should use one that contains a formula that will help with sensitive teeth.
Make sure that you apply only a small amount and that you spread it gently over all of your teeth.
You should also avoid cigarettes and vaping, as this is one of the fastest methods of staining your teeth and ruining the whole tooth-whitening process.
You can get plenty of non-oral smoking substitutes such as nicotine patches.
How To Keep Your Teeth Looking White?
When it comes to keeping your teeth looking good all-year-round, follow these steps:
- Brush up to 3 times a day – make sure that you brush your teeth gently with a soft brush.
- Flossing – make sure you get all the food matter out of your teeth after every meal.
- Dental check-up’s – make sure that you visit your dentist regularly to remove any plaque and fill cavities.
Conclusion
We hope that our short guide has helped you keep your teeth clean after whitening.
He has combined both of these skills to create his first company, Isopharm Limited, which became one of the top learning platforms within the dental industry.
With over 120,000 active users, he has been able to educate others in order to provide better dental care around the world.
With his expertise and work in the field, Andrew has been able to help many dental care professionals succeed in treating their patients.
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