Key points

• The most common chemicals to cause tooth stains are chromogens, tannins, and acids. After whitening, our teeth are more prone to damage, and they are also more likely to develop stains, which is why it’s important to follow a “white diet” for approximately 48 hours after the procedure.
• The white diet includes the following products: yoghurt, bananas, coconut water, milk, chicken, turkey, plain and sparkling water, white fish, white cheese, rice, pasta without sauces, white bread, tonic water, cauliflower, tofu, and pears.
• After teeth whitening, you should limit the consumption of brightly coloured foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, wine, fruit, sweets, curry, and dark sauces. It’s also recommended to avoid consuming fizzy drinks, tobacco, chewing gum, and any other foods and beverages that contain strong pigments.

The result of teeth whitening procedures comes down not only to the products you use but also to how you take care of your teeth afterwards. If you want to lock in the effect of whitening and keep your teeth from developing stains, there are a few diet recommendations you need to follow.

You may have heard of a “white diet” that dentists recommend following after teeth whitening, but what exactly is it? In this guide, you’ll find out what this diet is, what products you need to avoid after teeth whitening, and what foods impact the colour of the teeth in general.

What Causes Teeth Stains?

Three major groups of chemicals that cause most instances of teeth darkening are chromogens, tannins, and acids. These substances are present in many common foods and can either stain the enamel or make it weaker and more prone to staining. These types of molecules found in food and beverages can stain teeth even under normal circumstances, but your teeth become even more prone to staining after teeth whitening treatments. Thus, if you want to keep the results of your treatment for as long as possible, you should avoid consuming foods and beverages that contain staining agents.

How To Keep The Results Of Teeth Whitening

One of the first questions that may pop up in your head is how long do you have to watch what you eat? Well, the general recommendation is to limit certain foods and beverages for the first 48 hours after whitening because this is the time when your teeth are the most sensitive and vulnerable to discolouration. It may be too difficult to cut back on the foods mentioned below permanently to keep your teeth from eventually becoming stained once again, but you should at least do your best to avoid them for 48 hours after treatment. It’s a relatively small sacrifice for getting to enjoy your pearly white teeth for longer. 

Foods And Beverages To Avoid After Teeth Whitening

Here is the list of all foods and beverages you should avoid after whitening your teeth:

Coffee

It may be very stressful for coffee lovers to quit their favourite drink, but remember, it’s only for 48 hours. However, if you do need some caffeine to get through the day, try not to drink more than two cups and mix your coffee with milk. Milk helps to reduce staining, but it’s still important to limit coffee consumption.

Tea

While you may think that tea is less staining than coffee, in reality, it can be even worse. This is especially true for black tea. If you can’t fight the craving, add some milk and limit the number of cups you drink per day.

Fizzy Drinks

Fizzy drinks are very acidic, which is not the best thing for the teeth in general, not to mention instances when you have just gone through a teeth whitening procedure. Thus, it’s recommended to completely avoid soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks after teeth whitening.

Wine

Wine is another beverage that you should limit if you want a pearly smile. Red wine is very acidic, and its intense colour makes it a very staining product. And while white wine doesn’t stain your teeth, it weakens the enamel, which makes your teeth more vulnerable to stains. The same applies to coloured alcoholic drinks and beer, which are all highly staining for teeth.

Food Condiments

All dark condiments should be avoided for 48 hours after teeth whitening. Soy sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, and balsamic vinegar are all very staining and will eliminate the results you have achieved after treatment.

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Fruits are acidic, so they significantly weaken the enamel. In addition to containing acid that impacts the enamel, dark fruits and berries can also stain our teeth. While it’s crucial for us to consume fruits on a daily basis, try to avoid them for a few days after teeth whitening.

Sweets

As a child, you must have heard your dentist tell you that sweets and chocolate cause cavities in the teeth a thousand times. Well, the bad news is that they also stain your teeth. Remember the colour of your tongue after eating candies or chocolate? The same happens to your teeth, so try to avoid these foods.

Curry

Curry is also on the list of products you should avoid after teeth whitening. Since it stains all the pots and pans, it will also stain your teeth.

Tobacco

The expression “smoker teeth” didn’t come from nowhere, which is why it’s highly recommended to avoid smoking after teeth whitening. If you can’t fight the craving, try using nicotine patches.

Besides the foods mentioned above, it’s also recommended to cut back on pizza, chewing gum, carrots, spinach, chorizo, chips, vinegar, butter, margarine, and peas. Overall, try to limit your consumption of foods and drinks with strong pigments. Think of it this way: if it can stain your white T-shirt, it’s likely to stain your teeth as well.

Watch the Temperature

Besides limiting certain foods and drinks, you should also be mindful of the food temperature. After whitening, teeth are very sensitive to extreme temperatures, which is why you should only consume foods and beverages that are at room temperature.

What Can You Eat After Teeth Whitening?

The good news is that there are more products you can consume after teeth whitening than those you should limit. Here are the most common recommendations:

1. Yoghurt. Make sure to choose whole white yoghurt without colouring or artificial flavours, as those contribute to staining.
2. Bananas. These can be consumed as a snack, or you can mix them with your yoghurt. 
3. Chicken and turkey. White meat is not only healthy but also safe for your tooth colour. 
4. Fish. White fish is another product you can enjoy without damaging your tooth colour.
5. White cheese. This is another delicious food that poses no risk to the teeth.
6. Pasta. As long as you avoid sauces, pasta is fine to consume after teeth whitening.
7. Potatoes. It’s better to peel off the skin and only eat the flesh of potatoes. Mashed potatoes are a perfect choice. Feel free to enjoy french fries and plain potato chips as well.
8. Rice. This food works well as a side for fish or chicken.
9. Onion. You can add some onion to your meal while cooking it. However, try to avoid red onions and go with white or yellow vegetables instead. Red onion contains some pigment and may stain your teeth.
10. Egg whites. Sadly, the yoke has some colour, so it’s better to remove it when cooking.
11. White bread. You can safely consume white bread, but ideally, it’s best to remove the crust.
12. Porridge. Cook a tasty bowl of porridge with milk and enjoy a delicious breakfast meal. If you want to sweeten the dish, try to use sweetener instead of sugar for 48 hours after whitening.

In addition to the foods mentioned above, you can also enjoy plain cereals, cauliflower, tofu, chickpeas, crackers, pears, apples, and nuts such as almonds, peanuts, and cashews.

As for beverages, the following are safe for your tooth colour: plain and sparkling water, tonic water, coconut water, milk, clear alcohol, and white lemonade. 

How To Make The Whitening Effect Last Longer?

Following a plain colourless diet is the key to locking in the results of professional teeth whitening treatments, but there are also some other things you can do to keep your smile bright.

Use Icy Bear Whitening Toothpaste

Taking proper care of your teeth after whitening is crucial. Thus, using high-quality whitening toothpaste such as the Icy Bear Diamond Dust Whitening Toothpaste will help reduce the risk of staining. Icy Bear toothpaste has been proven to strengthen the enamel and lower the risk of cavities. It’s also free of bleaching agents, so it won’t make your teeth sensitive.

Buy The Icy Bear Sonic Toothbrush

You can achieve even better results and keep your teeth white for longer if you combine a whitening toothpaste with a sonic toothbrush. It’s been proven that sonic toothbrushes clean the teeth more effectively than manual ones and can even stop you from brushing too hard and damaging the enamel. The Icy Bear sonic toothbrush has a 2-minute timer that monitors your brushing technique and notifies you every 30 seconds to indicate that you should start brushing another area.

Try Icy Bear Whitening Strips

If you feel like your teeth are not white enough or don’t want to spend lots of time and money on professional whitening treatments at a dentist’s office, try using Icy Bear whitening strips. Made with brand-new yet incredibly safe and effective PAP technology, Icy Bear whitening strips whiten the teeth by up to 7 shades without damaging the enamel. They are easy to use and dissolve on their own inside the mouth, which leaves you with fewer things to worry about.

If you want to try a complete at-home whitening experience, try the Icy Bear Power Smile Bundle that comes with whitening strips, diamond dust toothpaste, and a sonic toothbrush to provide maximum results. 

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