03 Dec How to Care for Your Teeth after Whitening
After you get your teeth professionally whitened, it makes sense that you would want your results to last as long as possible! Did you know that there are several steps you can take to ensure that your teeth stay nice and white after a whitening treatment? Read on to learn more about teeth whitening aftercare so that you can keep flashing your pearly whites for years to come!
Teeth Whitening Aftercare
What you eat after getting your teeth whitened actually plays a big role in determining how long your teeth will stay white! For the first 48 hours after your procedure, you should be very careful with what you put into your mouth. For the best results and most prolonged whiteness, you should avoid eating artificially colored foods or consuming things that are known to stain, such as wine and tobacco. You should also avoid items like tea, coffee, beets, cherries, berries, and anything else that could stain your teeth.
Avoid Acidic Foods
When you undergo a teeth whitening treatment, the pores within your tooth enamel open up and become temporarily weak. This effect doesn’t last long, but for the first few weeks following a teeth whitening treatment you should try to avoid acidic foods and drinks. Soda, lemons, limes, tomato sauces, pickles, and other acidic foods and beverages could weaken your enamel further and make your teeth vulnerable to stains.
Avoid Hot and Cold Foods
After a whitening procedure, you will have sensitive teeth for a few days. To keep the sensitivity from getting worse, you should avoid eating or drinking anything excessively hot or cold. You can also purchase toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth to combat tooth sensitivity.
Safe Foods to Eat after Teeth Whitening
Fresh and crunchy fruits or vegetables (excluding berries!) will actually help to clean your teeth while you eat them. Some of the best fruits and vegetables to eat after getting your teeth whitened are apples, celery, carrots, and green beans. Foods like these help to increase the production and flow of saliva, which restores enamel and counteracts any acidity in your mouth.
Cosmetic Teeth Whitening at Prescott Dentistry
The first thing people notice about you is your smile. A beautiful smile will give you more confidence in both your personal and professional life. Cosmetic dentistry in Prescott, Arizona can often be accomplished in just a few visits! If stained teeth are “hiding” the real you, perhaps it’s time to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled doctors—the results will be immediate and dramatic. Give us a call today to set up a teeth whitening appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/3/2021). Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash