Professional teeth whitening is the best way to maintain the brightness and whiteness of your teeth. You can’t get that sort of result with home remedies or OTC teeth whitening strips. However, you need to take extra care of your diet for the first few days after the teeth whitening. The right kind of foods and drinks helps in maintaining the results you achieve. On the contrary, some food types can cause discoloration.
We are here to tell you about what to consume and what to avoid for 48 hours after professional teeth whitening. Let’s get started!

The White Diet

Your teeth are porous, sensitive, and vulnerable for a couple of days after whitening. Therefore dentists and experts recommend taking the white diet in this period. The white diet consists of white or light-colored foods and drinks that are low in acidity, pigment, chemicals, and sugar.

Foods & Drinks That Can be Consumed Right After Teeth Whitening

The following items from the white diet are healthy to eat and drink after the whitening:-

• Lean Meat & Protein – Light and lean protein sources like fish, turkey, tofu, chicken, etc., are healthy after the teeth whitening session. Make sure the fish, turkey, and chicken are either white or light in color. Also, use white sauce instead of using vibrant seasoning.
• Non-flavored Yogurt & Cheese –Yogurt and cheese are also excellent sources of proteins and vitamins. But you need to get the variants that are free from sugar, artificial colors, and flavors. So eat as much yogurt and cheese as you want. Just remember to get the plain white ones!

• Egg Whites- Eggs also have protein in abundance. Protein helps your teeth enamel gain strength after the teeth whitening session. But for the initial 2 days, you need to take out the egg yolk. It has a solid yellow color which can stain your newly whitened teeth.

• White Bread – You don’t need to go carb-free for 2 days. You can safely eat bread, but it needs to be white. Make sure it has no seasoning or flavors. You can also remove its crust to be extra careful.

• Healthy Fluids- Beverages are also crucial as they come in close contact with your teeth when you consume them. Drinks like water, green tea, milk, and apple juice are safe and healthy after whitening. However, you are not supposed to add sugar to any of these.

Foods & Drinks to Avoid for 2 Days After Teeth Whitening

You must avoid food and drinks containing sugar, artificial dyes, or natural and intense color pigments for 2 days after teeth whitening. Some of the examples are as follows:-

• Tea & Coffee – Your teeth are most porous for 2 days after the whitening. The tannins present in tea and coffee can easily discolor your teeth. So avoid tea and coffee for 48 hours.

• Sweet Candies & Chocolate – The sugar and artificial colors in candies and chocolates can cause tooth decay. Especially when your teeth are most sensitive after the whitening so avoid them at all costs.

• Red & White Wine – The dark pigment of red wine can stain your teeth. And white wine is also capable of causing harm to your teeth enamel. So wait for 48 hours after teeth whitening to clink glasses again.

• Acidic & Dark Colored Fruits- Avoid acidic and pigmented fruits like pomegranate, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc., for 2 days. Don’t consume their juices as well to keep your teeth stain free.

• Carbonated Drinks- Soft drinks or fizzy drinks contain a high level of sugar, acid, and sometimes dark colors. You don’t want your teeth and enamel to go through them in their most sensitive period.

Final Words!

These restrictions are merely for a couple of days which is a small price for long-lasting pearly whites. But teeth whitening only works for healthy teeth. Therefore don’t forget to get regular dental check-ups from your trusted dentist.

 

About the Author:

Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental communities with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.