What Can I Eat or Drink After Teeth Whitening?

With the passage of time, your teeth might have become discoloured, which wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. However, many of us rush to restore our teeth’s previous whiteness – to the extent that the teeth whitening industry is now estimated to be yearly worth over £40 million, says NetDoctor.

If you go down the teeth whitening route, the sparkle of your smile might not last for long if you aren’t careful about what you eat in the hours and days after receiving treatment. Therefore, it is highly recommended for you to opt for professional whitening services at http://www.drrudick.com/ if your discoloured teeth prove to be an aesthetic issue for you and your smile confidence.

Teeth whitening can be very effective, but not permanent

Though you might be tempted to pick up a tooth whitening kit in a local shop, you might feel more comfortable with arranging for a dental care professional to supervise the process in their clinic. You can have faith that professional teeth whitening delivered in this way will be completely safe.

This can, however, depend on your use of a reliable clinic, such as one of the several that are run by Ten Dental in London. Balham, Clapham and Wandsworth are all parts of the capital where the company carries out professional teeth whitening, using modern procedures for long-lasting results.

This still doesn’t mean that those results would be permanent. For this reason, the onus is on you to be careful with your selection of food and drink to consume in the aftermath of whitening treatment. Knowing what to choose is also about knowing what not to choose…

So, what shouldn’t you drink?

There might be a few clues in drinking habits which you have long had and even, perhaps, have contributed to your teeth picking up stains in the right place. Tea and coffee are both no-nos, as the chemicals in these dark beverages could make your teeth more yellow or dark.

Another potentially problematic drink is red wine, as it is produced from grapes containing dark purple colours that are capable of staining your teeth. Major staining can also result from the consumption of dark carbonated drinks due to the food colouring in them.

Can particular foods help to preserve teeth whiteness?

Surprisingly or not, the answer is yes. Tuck into firm fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, green beans, celery and cauliflower, as the chewing motion will help you to scrub your teeth. Your saliva could also flow more freely and, therefore, protect your teeth by neutralising acids.

Nonetheless, avoid acidic fruits such as oranges and lemons, as the contained acid can inflict harm to teeth, warns the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. It can also be a good idea to give dark chocolate a wide berth during your first week with your newly whitened teeth.

You could, however, eat dairy products, as HealthDay advises. Such foods, especially calcium-rich ones, include lactic acid that can assist in preventing decay. The harder varieties of cheese, meanwhile, can help to take away food particles that might have accumulated on your teeth.

Keep all of this in mind before you phone Ten Dental on 020 3918 6421 to book a teeth whitening session.

Amy Smith

With a degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge, Amy is a freelance writer and columnist. At YCB Magazine, she writes about all things lifestyle, travel & wellness.