When you get your teeth whitened, they become vulnerable to stains for a short while. You might stain your newly whitened teeth if you don’t watch what you eat and drink.
It is generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours after teeth whitening before eating normally. This is because the teeth may be more sensitive after the treatment, and the chemicals used in the whitening process may leave a protective layer on the teeth that can be dissolved or disrupted by certain foods.
After the first 24 hours, you can resume your normal diet, but it is still a good idea to avoid foods and drinks that are known to stain teeth for a few days or until any sensitivity or discomfort has subsided. It is also a good idea to avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that could potentially irritate your teeth or gums, as they may be more sensitive after the whitening treatment.
If you do eat or drink anything that could potentially stain your teeth, it is a good idea to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water afterward to help remove any pigment.
Not only some drinks but some foods can cause stains. Berries, soy sauce, chocolate, and even beef might cause stains when your teeth are very vulnerable. Lighter-colored foods like apples, chicken, bread, milk, eggs, and most vegetables are fine for your teeth.
Whitening chemicals pull water out of your teeth, which makes them dehydrated. Dehydrated teeth absorb liquids that can discolor them. You must avoid coffee, red wine, and some foods for a little while.
How Long After Teeth Whitening Can I Eat Normally?
It only takes 24 to 72 hours for your teeth to return to normal. Normal does not mean they cannot be stained, only that they are no longer unusually vulnerable to staining.
Your teeth also stop being unusually sensitive after about two days. Your teeth might remain somewhat more vulnerable than usual to staining for ten days to two weeks after treatment, but it is only in the first few days that your teeth are very vulnerable.
Both sensitivity and vulnerability to staining are caused by your teeth being dehydrated. You can help your teeth rehydrate faster by drinking enough water. You don’t have to drink water all the time; drink enough to stay hydrated all day so that your teeth will recover faster.
The first 24 hours are the most crucial. You might want to not eat or drink anything dark-colored during that time. If it leaves a stain on a white shirt, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
Smoking or chewing tobacco is the last thing you want to do shortly after getting your teeth whitened. Nothing will re-stain your teeth faster than smoking. You should also avoid sugary foods for the first day or three after whitening your teeth.
If you want to be as careful as possible, even brightly colored vegetables might be avoided. Carrots, spinach, and tomatoes are not necessarily safe. Avoiding brightly-colored vegetables might sound unnecessarily strict, but avoiding them for the first 24 hours might be a good idea.
You don’t have to stick to drinking only plain water during the first day. There is no reason to avoid sparkling water, milk, coconut milk, or white wine at any point.
After the first day, you can be a bit less careful (no longer strictly insisting on only light-colored foods) and a lot less careful after the third day. It won’t do any harm if you drink something like coffee or red wine four or six days after you get your teeth whitened.
It takes a while for coffee, red wine, or dark-colored beer to stain your teeth, even if you drink these beverages often. If you want to be on the safe side, wait a week or two rather than a few days.
Even Some Dental Products Can Stain Your Teeth
During the first 72 hours after you get your teeth whitened, artificial dyes can easily cause stains. Even dental products that contain colorful dyes can stain your teeth.
Toothpaste and mouthwash might be colored blue, red, orange, or purple using artificial dyes. None of that is ok for your easily stainable teeth. Use light-colored dental products instead. The first 24 hours are the most important.
It would be best if you still were strict about what you eat/drink during the second and third days. After the third day, you can be more lenient, although you might still wait 10 to 14 days before fully going back to eating normally.
