At Dr. Dann Orthodontics, we offer teeth whitening in Orlando and Winter Park, Florida. We accept clients of all ages and maintain a friendly atmosphere at our clinic. After a teeth whitening treatment, your teeth will be more sensitive for at least 24–48 hours. They will absorb food pigments more easily, and they might feel sensitive. To look after your new pearly whites, follow the do's and don'ts below.
Don't Eat Tooth-Staining Foods and Beverages
Foods and beverages that are acidic and have dark pigments stain your teeth. The acid wears down your tooth enamel, allowing the dark pigments to do more damage to your pearly whites.
During the period your teeth are more sensitive after a whitening treatment, it's best to avoid all staining foods and beverages.
Some examples of what to avoid are:
- Berries
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Dark sodas
- Sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Soy sauce
- Tomato-based sauces
- Chocolate
- Candies that have food dye
Do Drink Through a Straw
After the initial period of avoiding dark beverages, you can enjoy your favorite drinks with a straw. Using a straw reduces how much liquid comes into contact with your teeth.
Schedule a dentist's appointment.
Don't Use Tobacco Products
With your teeth more sensitive after whitening, you want to at least avoid the use of tobacco for the first two days. Tobacco stains your teeth, which will reverse the whitening effect faster over time, so you may want to consider quitting entirely. The desire to maintain white teeth can help you kick the habit.
Do Brush Your Teeth After Eating Foods and Beverages That Stain Teeth
You probably don't want to permanently avoid all foods and beverages that stain teeth. What you can do to minimize their impact on your tooth color is brush your teeth afterward. If you're not able to brush, then rinse your mouth with water.
Schedule a dental checkup.
Do Use a Whitening Toothpaste
A whitening toothpaste helps maintain your bright smile after your treatment, especially when it's combined with the above tips. Baking soda, peroxide, and potassium nitrate are some of the top ingredients to look for in a whitening toothpaste. You should only use it up to two times a day. If you need to brush your teeth after a meal, then use regular toothpaste to protect your teeth. Overuse of a whitening toothpaste would damage your enamel.
After a teeth whitening appointment, you'll want to follow the steps above to get the most out of the treatment. Your teeth will be more sensitive for a few days, so you need to avoid staining foods and beverages. Moving forward, a few simple lifestyle changes will increase how long your teeth stay white.