What to Eat After, or During, Teeth Whitening

So, you want to have whiter teeth. Who doesn’t? Fortunately, there are many things you can do to whiten your teeth, including eating and drinking certain food and beverages, using at-home whitening treatments and professional teeth whitening services performed by dentists.

Perhaps the easiest and least expensive teeth whitening option to start with is eating certain foods and being mindful of what you drink.

Food and drinks that stain your teeth include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Cola
• Red wine
• Beets
• Dark berries
• Bright curries

At-Home Teeth Whitening

Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are a great next step for those who want to do more than watch what they eat and drink but aren’t ready to commit to the cost or time associated with professional teeth whitening. Colgate teeth whitening kits and serums offer a range of whitening products to help you get a brighter smile.

• Colgate Optic White Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit – A great all-in-one teeth whitening kit containing a rechargeable LED whitening device and whitening serum.
• Colgate Optic White Teeth Whitening Refill Serum – Stocking up on whitening serum is simple and convenient with 5- or 10-day refill supplies and a subscription option.
• Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen – Use this to pinpoint specific teeth that require whitening treatment.

What to Eat After Teeth Whitening

If you are whitening your teeth but still not seeing the results you want, give it time. Depending on your type of treatment, results may take days or weeks. Remember, eating or drinking stain-causing substances such as coffee or berries after teeth whitening can inhibit the treatment’s full effects. If you do, try to brush your teeth with a whitening toothpaste afterward or at least rinse well with water to minimize the impact.

Over time, eating and drinking can cause discoloration, even if we’re eating helpful foods for teeth whitening and staying away from things that stain, so occasional whitening touch-ups are recommended. Consult the instructions in your teeth whitening product or ask your dentist about how often you should use whitening treatments.

You are what you eat, and so are your teeth, so eat well and your smile will thank you!