You finally decided to spoil your smile with a professional teeth whitening treatment. You’re loving your newfound confidence and the renewed brightness of your pearly whites. Finding an excuse to smile is easy as you enjoy sharing its radiance.
Touch-ups will be needed from time to time to retain the brightness of your teeth. However, there are ways to keep the sparkle in your smile for longer.
Believe it or not, one of the main ways to protect the whiteness of your smile from fading is being wise about your food and beverage choices.
Foods That Can Cause Staining
Many of the foods and beverages that can stain the smile have intense color pigments that can darken the enamel—the white, outer part of the tooth. Acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages can also stain the teeth.
If you want to retain the beautiful radiance of your smile, avoid the following foods and beverages:
– White and red wine
– Sports drinks
– Black teas and coffee
– Carbonated drinks (both light and dark-colored sodas)
– Strongly-colored foods
– Berries
– Curry, tomato, and soy sauces
Foods That Can Combat Staining
Just as there are foods that can stain the teeth, there are foods that can fight staining.
Eating dark green vegetables (like broccoli, spinach, or kale) at the beginning of a meal will create a protective film over the teeth that can help shield them from staining foods. Other fruits and vegetables that fight staining include carrots, celery, cauliflower, and apples.
To combat acidic foods, drink a glass of milk or eat hard cheese. These can both neutralize acid and strengthen your pearly whites!
Dr. Kenneth Lewis and our team in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are more than happy to give you further advice on keeping your pearly whites bright and radiant! Please contact Lewis Family Dentistry at 910.488.0518 today to schedule your next visit with our dentist. We look forward to your call!