Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.
Have you heard a story about someone whose teeth turned green after drinking green beer at a local Irish pub? Or the lady whose teeth turned purple after consuming red wine hours after undergoing a tooth whitening procedure?
Your teeth can be susceptible to staining, especially after undergoing teeth whitening procedure and while you may happen to fancy green and purple, these are not colours that do your smile justice.
White is the desired dental colour, and it's in your best interest to make sure you maintain the brighter white smile you now possess. Here are some foods and drinks to avoid in the days immediately following a teeth whitening session.
Acidic foods
Teeth whitening leaves your teeth with temporary sensitivity and gum irritation. Eating acidic foods such as oranges, limes, lemons, vinegar and soft drinks can lead to pain and discomfort due to the increased acidity in your saliva.
Acidic foods can damage areas of your teeth already weakened by bleaching agents used in professional teeth whitening procedures.
Red wine
Drinking red wine defeats your efforts to maintain a bright smile. Not only does red wine stain your teeth after a whitening procedure but is also a leading cause of tooth staining in the first place. Coloured alcohol has an adverse effect in blocking the success of the teeth whitening process.
It's best to avoid a glass or red wine as long as possible to preserve the effects of teeth whitening. If you must drink a glass of wine, consider using a straw to avoid staining your teeth.
Coffee and tea
Do you love your morning cup of coffee or tea? Unfortunately, not only does coffee stain your teeth but the caffeine found in coffee dries up your mouth, inviting in bacteria.
Remember the stains on your coffee mug? Coffee may even be the reason you needed your teeth whitened in the first place. Adding flavourings such as sugar and syrups will only aggravate the staining.
Also, tea, especially black tea has high levels of tannin that end up staining your teeth. If you can't simply resist your morning cup of coffee or tea, its best to use a straw and drink water afterward.
Dark sauces
In addition to tasting delicious, dark sauces such as dark gravies, soy sauce, tomato sauce and dark stews can ruin a newly whitened smile.
You don't need to cut out your sauces completely after teeth whitening, just make sure to avoid them for the first week after your whitening procedure.
Share16 October 2017
