Who doesn’t love pearly white teeth? Some people even go the extra mile to make sure they have the perfect smile, including teeth whitening treatment. To get the most out of your treatments, it’s vital to follow a special diet, especially immediately following whitening sessions. Here’s a list of foods to eat, and stay away from, for shiny, healthy teeth.
What Happens During a Teeth Whitening Session?
Professional teeth-whitening provides optimal results. Typically, your teeth are whitened with hydrogen peroxide. Oftentimes, your dentin, which is the layer underneath the enamel, is temporarily exposed. This causes temporary sensitivity. Once exposed, your dentin becomes vulnerable to erosion and staining.
It’s also likely your gums will experience post-treatment sensitivity and irritation. Although these are temporary side effects, certain foods and beverages make recovery extremely uncomfortable. Following a teeth-whitening friendly diet guarantees longer-lasting results between treatments.
What to Eat After Teeth Whitening
Bananas
Bananas usually pose little threat to your enamel. In fact, bananas have a reputation for whitening teeth. After eating the banana, try rubbing the peel on your teeth for two minutes before brushing. The peel acts as a light surface stain removal agent. Bananas do contain sugar, so enjoy them in moderation and follow up with drinking some water.
White Cheeses
Eating cheese is highly recommended by dentists. Based on its high calcium content, white cheese improves overall enamel and gum health. White cheese helps you avoid stains while improving potential damage caused by whitening treatments.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds have a slightly abrasive texture, making them great for plaque and surface stains. They also contain phosphorus, which helps teeth absorb calcium. Adding nuts to your diet helps to keep your teeth white, healthy, and strong.
Foods to Avoid After a Cleaning
Acidic Beverages
As the saying goes, if it can stain your shirt, it’ll probably stain your teeth. Caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soda are known for staining teeth. While wine doesn’t have caffeine, it’s wise to temporarily avoid drinking it based on its high acidity and ability to stain enamel.
Pasta Sauce
Pasta is great, especially when it’s drenched in tomato sauce. Based on the acidity, however, you should avoid tomato-based sauces so that you don’t stain or erode your newly-treated teeth.
Candy
Do you know how candy can stain your tongue after eating it? The same applies to your teeth. Therefore, ignore your sweet tooth for a while to maintain your tooth and gum health.
Additional Precautions
In addition to knowing what to eat after teeth whitening, teeth-staining habits like smoking should also be avoided. Your teeth are already recovering from your whitening treatment, so make sure you eliminate any activities that reverse positive results.
If you’re looking for a comfortable environment that provides quality, professional whitening services in the Pleasant View area, be sure to contact Mountain View Dental for inquiries and to schedule an appointment.