7 Foods to Stay Away After Whitening Your Teeth

Whitening your teeth is a great way to go from having discolored or stained teeth to having a whiter and more confident-inducing smile. That being said, some risks are involved when whitening your teeth using certain foods. After whitening your teeth with any food, they can become more stained over time as digesting an acidic food like lemon water or apple cider vinegar leaves an alkalizing residue on your enamel. And since we all want a long-lasting result, here are seven foods you should avoid after whitening your teeth:

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1. Coffee

Coffee is a primary culprit when it comes to discoloring your teeth. Since it can be a bit acidic when consumed, it’s best to stay away from it (especially the darker roasts) after whitening your teeth. If you can’t live without your daily cup, opt for a latte made with low-fat milk and black coffee or a matcha latte made with hot water. This helps to reduce the amount of acidity in your drink and the teeth-staining effect it has on your smile. If you can’t live without your regular cup of joe, you can try to reduce the acidity by adding a bit of baking soda or a few grains of rice while brewing.

2. Red Wine

Red wine is a primary culprit when staining your teeth, especially if it’s a darker variety. It can leave behind a brownish-red stain that’s hard to eliminate. After whitening your teeth with a red wine vinegar solution, it’s best to stay away from red wine. Because of its high acid content, red wine is known to be a significant culprit in staining your teeth. This is even more apparent if you consume darker varieties. If you can’t live without your regular red wine glass, try mixing it with a bit of water. Avoid drinking it straight from a wine glass and use a wine glass to dilute the drink.

3. Dark Chocolates

While many people enjoy dark chocolates as a treat, you’re better off staying away from them after teeth whitening. While dark chocolates are known to stain teeth, they’re also loaded with sugar and fat, which can cause cavities and lead to gum disease. This can make you go back to the dentist.

4. Beer

Beer is notorious for staining your teeth after you whiten them. This can be attributed to the fact that it’s made with hops, naturally highly staining. It’s best to avoid beer after whitening your teeth, as it can lead to noticeable discoloration. If you can’t live without your regular beer, try to mix it with a bit of water or a low-sugar beverage.

5. Soft Drinks

You should also avoid drinking any soft drinks after whitening your teeth. After consuming something acidic, the teeth can become more sensitive, and the whitening process can reverse. Soft drinks are highly acidic, which can be problematic if you’ve whitened your teeth with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. It’s best to avoid soft drinks after whitening your teeth as they can decrease your teeth sensitivity and reverse the whitening process. If you can’t live without your regular soda, try to mix it with a bit of water or stick to drinking diet sodas.

6. Black or Green Tea

Black and green teas are known to be high in tannins, which are great at reducing the appearance of redness in the skin but also lead to teeth discoloration. It’s best to avoid black and green teas after whitening your teeth. If you can’t live without your daily cup of tea, you can brew it with a bit of lemon to reduce its tannic effect on your smile.

7. Vinegar of Any Kind Apple Cider, White Vinegar, etc.

You should also avoid consuming any vinegar after whitening your teeth. Vinegar is known to be highly acidic and can completely reverse the whitening process after you consume it. If you can’t live without your daily vinegar, consume it in moderation and dilute it with water. You can also try to mix it with some baking soda to reduce its effects on teeth.

Conclusion

Even though whitening your teeth can be great for your confidence and overall health, it’s essential to know that certain foods can reverse the effects after consumption. It’s best to avoid coffee, red wine, dark chocolate, beer, soft drinks, black and green tea, vinegar, and other extremely acidic food after whitening your teeth. This will allow you to maintain the results of your whitening treatment for as long as possible.