Food Fiasco: 3 Culprits to Avoid After Whitening Your Teeth

Your dentist’s primary goal is to help you build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums, but many providers also offer cosmetic services, such as teeth whitening, to upgrade your appearance and improve your self-esteem.

Once you’ve achieved the perfect shade, it’s natural to want to preserve it. For instance, brushing and flossing twice daily removes plaque and bacteria that contribute to cavities, gum disease, and discoloration. But did you know you can also help maintain the results by steering clear of foods that cause stains? Continue reading to learn about 3 ingredients to avoid that can darken your grin!

Culprit #1: Lemons

Like many other cosmetic dental procedures, teeth whitening is often considered minimally invasive because it’s straightforward and usually requires no needles or numbing. That said, some patients develop temporary sensitivity after treatment because bleach can expand the microscopic pores in your enamel. This allows sensations, such as overly hot and cold temperatures, to travel more easily to the tender nerves inside your teeth and trigger discomfort.

You might think you can help maintain the results by applying lemon juice to your enamel, since it contains citric acid, which can also act as a lightening agent. However, it’s best to avoid this ingredient for a couple of days after teeth whitening because it can also cause a sharp or lingering ache, or further weaken the enamel, which can start to reveal more of the yellow-brown tone of the underlying layer of dentin. 

Culprit #2: Coffee or Tea

If you’ve ever asked your dentist how to avoid developing dental stains, they might have advised you to avoid certain beverages, such as coffee, tea, or dark sodas. But it’s not necessarily the caffeine that poses a risk to your teeth, but other natural ingredients found in these popular drinks are known to cause discoloration.

For example, they all contain tannins, naturally occurring compounds found in various plants that give them a bitter flavor and help defend them against pests and other animals. These polyphenols are sticky and can bind to the proteins in your enamel, where they absorb dark pigmentation that clings to the protective outer layer of your teeth to stain them. Minimizing your consumption or chasing your morning coffee or tea with a tall glass of water can help preserve the results of your teeth whitening treatment.

Culprit #3: Berries

Tannins aren’t the only plant-based chemicals that can cause dental stains. Many berries, including blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, and tomatoes, contain chromogens, which are deeply toned, color-producing compounds. They can also attach to the enamel and act like glue, allowing shady particles to cling to and eventually tint the surface of your teeth.

In addition to avoiding these common culprits known to cause discoloration, most patients can also help preserve the results of their teeth whitening by implementing a consistent, twice-daily at-home hygiene routine and visiting their dentist every 6 months for a routine checkup and cleaning.

Meet the Author

Dr. Marianna Gaitsgory is committed to helping improve her patient’s lives by enhancing their smiles’ function and appearance. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University and has remained committed to continuing education to offer the most up-to-date treatments using state-of-the-art technology. Today, she offers a comprehensive menu of services, including in-office and take-home teeth whitening, to conveniently meet all your unique needs. To brighten your smile, you can request an appointment on the website or call (508) 875-0900.