After a professional teeth whitening procedure, you want your dazzling white smile to last. To ensure it continues to shine brightly in the weeks, months, and years to come, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene. You may also want to avoid a few key foods for about 48 hours after undergoing the procedure. The whitening agent temporarily strips your enamel of minerals that block pores, making your teeth more vulnerable to staining. After a couple of days, the minerals will redevelop. During this fragile window, consuming certain foods may inhibit the long-term effects of your procedure.

What to Avoid After Teeth Whitening

1. Dark Drinks

You may be tempted to reach for a glass of wine or cup of coffee after your procedure, but if you want to solidify your results, it’s best to abstain. Dark beverages like coffee, tea, wine, and dark soda can stain your newly whitened teeth. Even orange, grape, or tomato juice may cause damage. To minimize the effects, you can carefully sip the liquid through a straw.

2. Staining Foods

Just like dark-colored beverages, several highly-pigmented foods can wreak havoc on your teeth whitening procedure. For best results, steer clear of foods like dark chocolate, tomato sauce, soy sauce, blueberries, pomegranate, stew, and curry for at least two days following the procedure.

3. Acidic Fruit & Treats

Your teeth may feel more sensitive than usual for a couple of days following your teeth whitening procedure. While this sensitivity will subside, you may want to avoid acidic foods and drinks like lemons, oranges, grapefruit, vinegar, pickles, and soft drinks in the meantime.

4. Cold Food & Drinks

Cold food and drinks won’t damage your whitening progress, but you may still want to avoid them. Since your teeth may be sensitive, consuming foods or drinks like ice cream or piping-hot mint tea may cause discomfort.

If you would like a luminous, healthy smile, look no further than Waipahu, Hawaii’s trusted dentist. Lisa Valderueda, DMD offers the professional teeth whitening services patients need for beautiful, long-lasting results. For more information about the family dentist, visit the practice online. To schedule a teeth whitening appointment, call a friendly professional today at (808) 676-5711.