Foods to Avoid When You’re Whitening Your Teeth

 

Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dental procedure that delivers fast, reliable results. However, far too many people fail to keep their teeth white due to their diet and lifestyle. In fact, some “healthy” foods can even be harmful to your teeth.

Cassell Dentistry has helped countless patients get a bright smile with our professional teeth whitening in Mission Valley. Keep reading to learn what foods whiten teeth and which ones you should avoid if you want to keep your smile bright.

How Teeth Whitening Works

Having a movie-star smile is a dream for many people, but naturally pearly white teeth is not always a reality. Even if you regularly brush and floss, your natural teeth may never be as white as you want. What’s more, years of drinking coffee and tea or using tobacco can cause stains that toothpaste can’t remove.

For this reason, many people try teeth whitening to remove these set-in stains. Teeth whitening use oxidizing ingredients (typically peroxide) that soak into the enamel and dentin to break down stains. As the stain particles are lifted from the teeth, your smile becomes brighter and whiter.

The Dangers of DIY Teeth Whitening Foods

The internet is full of DIY articles about foods that supposedly make your teeth whiter. While there may be some truth behind these solutions, they are not safe and can jeopardize your oral health. Here’s how some of these DIY options can be harmful to your teeth.

Lemons

One of the most famous DIY whitening treatments is applying lemon directly to the teeth. People love to tout this method because it makes your teeth white, thanks to the high acid content in lemons. However, that same acid will wear down your tooth enamel, weakening it and making it prone to sensitivity, decay, and discoloration as your enamel thins out.

Strawberries

Just like lemons, strawberries have high acidity and can erode your enamel. What’s more, leaving the strawberry juice on your teeth invites bacteria that feed on natural sugars. So not only are you weakening your teeth, but also inviting the bacteria that cause decay.

Baking Soda

Many DIY teeth whitening treatments incorporate baking soda, stating how great it works in lifting stains. However, baking soda is very abrasive and actually scratches layers off your enamel, weakening your teeth. It’s also harsh on your gum tissues. So, while it may leave your teeth whiter looking, it comes at a cost.

 Foods That Can Stain Teeth

After whitening your teeth, you will want to stay away from certain dark foods and liquids. The teeth are quite vulnerable at this time and can easily stain or feel sensitive. Even after your teeth settle-in after whitening, you should still minimize intake of these foods because they can cause new, heavy stains over time.

You should not consume any of these types of snacks or beverages for at least a week after teeth whitening treatments:

• Chocolate
• Sweet candy
• Dark fruits/vegetables
• Cola/Juice
• Alcohol
• Coffee/Tea

If you ever have any doubt, think about what types of stains the food would cause if it got onto a white shirt. If you think it would stain a shirt, it could also stain your teeth.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Mission Valley

 The safest and fastest way to get pearly white teeth is with professional teeth whitening. Cassell Dentistry has helped countless Mission Valley residents get the smiles they love with our in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments.

Our in-office treatment only takes about 1-1.5 hours and delivers instantly noticeable results. We use a powerful peroxide that soaks into the teeth and activate it with a laser light to quickly remove stains.

Our take-home treatments work similarly to over-the-counter whitening trays but are customized to fit your mouth and use a higher concentration of peroxide. Treatment can last up to two weeks, and you’ll start to see results in just a few days. The results will be far brighter than anything you’ll achieve from an over-the-counter system.

Schedule Your Teeth Whitening Appointment

The Cassell Dentistry team loves helping others get the smiles they’ve always dreamt of having. Make your brighter smile a reality with our professional grade teeth whitening treatments.