Whitening is one of the most affordable and effective ways to completely brighten your smile and allow you to look years younger. Whether you have naturally dark teeth or decades of staining, this simple procedure won’t take long to get great results, but there are a few things you can do to maintain your new look.
For The First 48 Hours
The gel used to professionally whiten teeth is peroxide based and the process essentially oxidizes colorful organic compounds within the spongy inner parts of the teeth. In order for the gel to penetrate the tooth, small pores on the enamel open up so the peroxide can soak in completely. Those pores will remain open for a couple days, on average, after the whitening process is finished. Your saliva has the amazing ability of remineralizing those pores so there’s no need to worry. Your job at this point is to avoid anything with staining power until your teeth’s surfaces are completely sealed up again.
Choose Your Meals Wisely
It may go against your rule of thumb for a colorful meal, but most people that have invested money in a whitening procedure want to stay low maintenance in the future and avoid certain foods. When you are meal planning, choose light shades and a dull colored combination. Turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes, milk, white rice, white fish, cauliflower, cottage cheese and water will not stain your enamel. It’s not to say you have to erase dark foods forever, but the longer you avoid them after tooth whitening, the better results you will have.
Foods That Are Sure To Stain
Some people have super strong enamel with very little root exposure and immaculate home care that doesn’t leave them with much staining despite their food and drink choices. If you are not so lucky, these are the sure fire items that will cause staining.
- Red wine
- Black coffee and dark tea/green tea
- Dark sauces like soy sauce and teriyaki sauce
- Dark berries like blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries
- Dark sodas
- Mustard and ketchup
There are a couple different tooth whitening options offered at our office and we are confident that you can easily maintain the results. As time goes on, you will most likely need a brief touch up with your custom whitening trays, but that will be completely up to you!