Keep Teeth White After Treatment from Your Dentist in Framingham

It’s a beautiful day when you get your teeth whitened multiple shades, making them glisten in the sun. Afterwards, you walk towards the restaurant next door to grab a light lunch. As the server walks up to your table, she asks what beverage you’d like. You catch yourself before saying the phrase “hot tea please.”

Your dentist in Framingham will remind you of how to take care of your recent investment. However, in case you need a handy reminder, they’ve provided information on how to protect your new white teeth.

How to Take Care of Whitened Teeth

It’s much easier to manage your newly whitened smile than it is to whiten it in the first place, so you’ll want to take the necessary steps to care for your investment. Start by buying a toothpaste specifically designed to whiten teeth. This will remove stains after eating foods you eat and prevent your teeth from yellowing further. If you do consume foods that cause staining, try to brush and/or rinse this food out of your mouth before it has a chance to stain. Be sure to avoid colored toothpastes as well.

You’ll want to try using a straw to drink beverages that stain, as this will reduce your teeth’s exposure to them. The surface of your teeth is like cloth; it actually contains many holes that gives stains room to settle. If you wear lipstick, a cool trick to make your teeth look whiter is to apply a bright shade of lipstick that is blue or pink-based. Avoid orange or brown shades which only complement the yellow in your teeth.

Avoid These Foods at All Costs

There are many foods you should try to avoid if you’re trying to retain your whitened smile. Since your dentist might not go over every single food and beverage at your visit, they’re going to mention them here so you have a convenient list to reach for.

When it comes to dark staining drinks, avoid these:

• Tea
• Coffee
• Red Wine
• Colored soft/alcoholic drinks
• Fruit Juice

All these drinks either contain acidic properties which wear down the surface of your tooth, have a distinct pigmentation that easily stains teeth, are served hot and can melt the recently applied whitening gel, or have any combination of these characteristics. When it comes to food, avoid these:

• Bolognaise
• Soy Sauce
• Red Meat
• Chocolate
• All fruit except bananas

Most fruit either stains or carries acidic properties that you don’t want to touch your teeth. A good rule of thumb to use is to ask yourself, “Would this stain clothing?” If the answer is yes, don’t eat it yet!

Foods That Won’t Affect Your New Smile

Obviously, your dentist can’t expect you to abstain from eating or drinking anything for 24 hours, so keep these foods on your next meal plate until the timeframe ends:

• Plain Chicken
• Fish
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Plain pasta (white and oil-based sauces only)
• Cereal
• Cauliflower
• Skim Milk
• Clear alcoholic drinks
• Still/Sparkling/Tonic water

Don’t let your investment go to waste. Know the foods to eat and the habits to have to keep your teeth-whitening from Framingham intact!

About the Author

Dr. Marianna Gaitsgory, DMD, earned her dental degree from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University. For many years she has been in practice and continues to further her education in multiple dental specialties and procedures. To learn more about her practice, contact her at (508) 875-0900 or visit her website.