Teeth whitening breaks down years of embedded stains in your teeth. But if you are concerned about getting the best results, you may wonder if what you eat affects how bright your teeth get. We will discuss the results of five studies and how you can decide what is right for you.
What Should You Eat After Getting Your Teeth Whitened?
Does it matter what you eat when getting Zoom whitening? Some dentists recommend avoiding foods that stain during the whitening treatment. But what do studies show?
The article, White Diet: Is It Necessary During Tooth Whitening?, published in Operative Dentistry, reviewed five studies of patients during their whitening treatment. Participants did not have any dietary restrictions during their whitening treatment, but they answered questions about their diet. The results reveal how eating and drinking staining foods before, during, and after whitening treatment affects tooth shade. What did researchers find after reviewing five studies?
Before whitening
Survey participants who drank a lot of tea and coffee before whitening their teeth had darker teeth than non-tea and coffee drinkers. And their color change was more dramatic after whitening.
During whitening
Researchers in one study found no effect of coffee on tooth bleaching before completing treatment. Still, researchers in a separate study concluded that patients should avoid brown staining while bleaching their teeth. Researchers also concluded that adhering to a white diet during teeth whitening did not improve the outcome.
After whitening
- Tea stains – Does not significantly stain bleached tooth enamel
- Coffee – Little effect on color change after bleaching, but has more staining effect than cigarette smoke
- Wine – Win increases the risk of teeth stains
What’s Wrong with Following a White Diet?
Not all dentists agree with the research. Some dentists recommend a white diet—or avoiding staining foods—during and after the whitening process. While others say eat whatever you want. Still many patients prefer to avoid coffee, tea, berries, and dark foods and drinks. Talk to your dentist and decide what is best for you.
What Can You Expect with Zoom Whitening?
Before Zoom whitening, your dentist will explain the results you can expect. After completing treatment, your tooth color will stabilize in two to three weeks and may not be as bright as at first. Talk to your dentist if you want to lighten your teeth further.
If you want to keep drinking coffee or tea after whitening, you may need to do touch-ups more often to keep your teeth as bright as you wish.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana dentist, sponsors this post. Dr. Finley is an accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry.
