Teeth whitening is the most sought-after cosmetic procedure in the United States for good reason. It’s a simple and effective way to make you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. A brighter smile can help you look younger and even smile more. Who doesn’t want that?
Like other cosmetic interventions, teeth whitening requires you to follow directions if you want it to work well. Your dentist will give you a lot of instructions on how to apply the teeth whitener, how to take care of your teeth, and possible side effects for which you should look out.
Part of your instructions will be guidelines on foods and drinks to consume during your treatment. Or rather, what to avoid. If you like to plan ahead, you may want to know about this list before you start your whitening treatment, so you can be prepared.
Foods to Avoid During and After Teeth Whitening
There are many ways to whiten teeth. You can do it in one visit to the dentist with an extremely high concentration of the active ingredient. You can do it at home slowly with over-the-counter treatments, minimal active ingredients, and lesser results. Better yet, you can have the best of both worlds with the dentist-prescribed treatments you do at home.
No matter how you choose to whiten your teeth, this basic rule remains the same: stay away from staining foods for the duration of your treatment.
A list of staining foods includes, but is not limited to:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red wine
- Marinara sauce
- Candies with lots of dye
- Soy sauce
- Tobacco products
- Brightly colored spices and herbs
- Ripe berries
A better way to think of it is to picture your teeth as a brand-new white t-shirt. If you spilled your food on the t-shirt, would a cycle in the washer lift the stain? If it would take elbow grease or a miracle to get the stain out of a white t-shirt, don’t put it on your teeth as you’re going through the whitening process.
How to Keep Your Smile Bright
Avoiding staining foods and beverages forever is one way to help keep your teeth white long after your treatment. However, teeth naturally turn yellow with age. Plus, avoiding all of those foods forever can be taxing on your mental and emotional health.
Instead, consider regular maintenance treatments as part of your routine. Even one whitening treatment each month can help you maintain the smile you love without giving up your favorite foods and beverages.
The Best Teeth Whitening in the Upper West Side
Glassman Dental Care is proud to be one of only a handful of local dentists to offer the KöR Whitening system. This system uses customized teeth trays and high-concentration whitening power to brighten your smile while you sleep.
We also offer ongoing support to keep your new smile as bright as ever. With once-monthly, at-home treatments, you can keep your teeth sparkling white while keeping all your favorite foods and drinks in rotation.
Contact us today to set up your consultation and start your journey. We will guide you throughout the process and be sure to answer any questions you have along the way.