Professional teeth whitening provides an instant and dramatic improvement in your smile. After the procedure, it’s essential to maintain those pearly whites for as long as possible. You can do this by staying away from foods and beverages that stain teeth or how to limit their effect on your teeth if you do have them in your diet.

Avoid These Drinks & Food After Teeth Whitening 

1. Coffee & Tea

Because teeth are porous, they will absorb anything they are exposed to. As a result, drinking dark beverages such as coffee and tea on a regular basis will stain your teeth. If you still want your caffeine fix, drink these beverages through a straw so they won’t come into contact with the front of your teeth. It’s also best to brush your teeth—or at least rinse your mouth—immediately after drinking them.

2. Tomato Sauce

Tomato-based sauces have a rich color and are slightly acidic. The acid weakens the enamel on your teeth to make them more absorbent, and the dark color of the sauce will stain the teeth. If you want a meal with tomato sauce, eat some greens such as broccoli or a salad beforehand. These greens create a protective film on the enamel to protect your teeth whitening.

3. Pigmented Fruit

Fruits add essential vitamins and minerals to your diet, and they add a lot of color to your plate as well. Dark pigmented ones such as blackberries, pomegranates, and blueberries can stain your teeth. If you don’t want to cut this out of your diet, be sure to brush your teeth immediately after eating them to remove the pigmented residue.

4. Soda

Soda is acidic, which breaks down your enamel layer; dark colas are especially likely to stain your teeth. Soda is detrimental to your teeth, as the high sugar levels cause cavities as well. If you do drink soda, use a straw and immediately brush your teeth or thoroughly rinse with water afterward.

5. Beets

Like pigmented fruit, beets have an extremely strong pigment. A diet high in beets can lead to teeth stained pink or orange. They are beneficial for your health, so keep them in your diet. Just brush your teeth as soon as possible after eating for at least two minutes to ensure the stain doesn’t set on your teeth. 

Even with your diligent efforts, teeth are always yellowing due to age and food exposure. The professionals at Preventive Dental Services in Kenai Peninsula, AK, will keep them looking beautiful over the years with their professional teeth whitening procedure. To schedule a teeth cleaning appointment, call them at (907) 235-1286. To read more about their teeth cleaning procedure, visit their website.