Teeth whitening treatments can make a huge difference not just to how your teeth look, but also to your self-confidence.
So if you’re going to get your teeth whitened, it makes sense to take steps to maintain your results.
High Street Smiles provides teeth whitening as part of our wide range of dental treatments here in Warrington.
If you’re thinking of getting your teeth whitened, we recommend you read the following advice to help you keep your teeth looking whiter for longer.
Foods to avoid
In short, if you are getting your teeth whitened you will need to avoid any food or drink that has the potential to stain your teeth as much as possible.
Food and drinks which can stain teeth include:
- Beetroot
- Berries
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruits
- Coffee
- Coloured sauces (i.e. tomato)
- Coloured sweets
- Curry
- Dark coloured soft drinks
- Red wine
- Soy sauce
- Spinach
- Tea
- Turmeric
- Vinegar
While you should look to limit how often you consume any of the above wherever possible, your teeth will be most porous immediately following your teeth whitening treatment.
Over the long term, being careful to avoid staining foods can help maintain your results.
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Foods to enjoy
In the days after a teeth whitening treatment, you should look to make swaps to less staining foods and drinks.
It’s probably no surprise that this involves ditching foods or drinks with strong pigments in favour of clear or white-coloured foodstuffs.
Some examples of ‘safe’ foods post-teeth whitening include:
- Bananas
- Bread
- Cauliflower
- Chicken
- Clear soups
- Crackers
- Fish
- Milk
- Oats
- Pasta
- Peeled apples
- Plain rice
- Plain yoghurt
- Skinless potatoes
- Tofu
- Turkey
- Water
- White cheese
It might not be realistic to stick to the above foods and drinks all of the time. However, swapping out staining foods and drinks where you can is advisable.
Ideally, if you are reading this post prior to teeth whitening then you can be best prepared to make some adjustments, especially during the 48 hours post-treatment when your teeth will be most vulnerable to staining.
How else can I protect my teeth from staining?
Rinsing with water: Not only does water have a neutral pH to reduce the acidity of foods, but it can also help wash away foods or drinks that may stain your teeth. Try to consume water in between meals and stick to water as much as possible in the days following your teeth whitening treatment.
Use a straw: Drinking through a straw can also help limit contact between drinks that can stain your teeth and the surface of your teeth.
Chew gum: Look for sugar-free gum that contains xylitol which can stimulate saliva production. This works to cleanse your mouth to prevent both decay and stains.
Maintain excellent oral hygiene: Even if your teeth look beautiful following whitening, you still need to take great care of them. Brush twice daily and floss once a day. Using a whitening toothpaste can keep surface-level tooth stains at bay.
Don’t skip your hygienist appointment: It is generally recommended to visit your hygienist every 6 months, although you may require more frequent visits depending on your individual circumstances. Whatever your hygienist advises for you personally, keeping up with your visits can keep your teeth looking great but most importantly healthy.
Don’t smoke or vape: Both smoking and vaping are bad for your oral health and they can also stain your teeth. Consider quitting before you whiten your teeth to get your treatment off to the best possible start.
Can tooth stains be removed?
Absolutely! These days, we have some excellent technology available to remove stains including our EMS Airflow machine. As a non-invasive treatment option, this machine uses powerful airflow to lift stains from the teeth.
If it’s been a while since you’ve visited our hygienist or had a dental checkup, then we also recommend doing both of these things prior to whitening. That’s because not only can we ensure your mouth is healthy, but the results of any teeth whitening will be enhanced when your teeth are free from plaque and tartar.
What about purple toothpaste for whitening?
Unfortunately, purple toothpaste is not considered an effective treatment for tooth whitening, certainly not in terms of comparing it against professional treatment options.
Never heard of purple toothpaste before? The idea is that purple toothpaste uses colour theory to cancel out yellow tones in teeth. However, even when some visual change is noted, the effect is often only temporary. Simply put, toothpaste is not capable of removing intrinsic stains or heavy discolouration of the teeth.
Also, in cases where you may have plaque or tartar build up on the teeth, or if you are a smoker, you will require a visit to our hygienist to get the most benefit out of a teeth whitening treatment.
Therefore, toothpaste on its own also wouldn’t be sufficient to get good results.
So while whitening toothpastes of all kinds may be used to complement or prolong any whitening treatments, they aren’t a substitute for professional treatment at the dentist. Don’t forget, this doesn’t just include the treatment itself but also a consultation to check your oral health and overall suitability for teeth whitening.
Discover whiter teeth in Cheshire at our Warrington dental practice
Are you in search of professional and safe teeth whitening treatments in Warrington?
High Street Smiles offers a range of cosmetic dental treatments at our Golborne practice in Cheshire.
Head over to our contact page to book your free consultation with one of our dentists.
Or, if you have any questions please give us a call on 01942 726983.
