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Minor to moderate teeth stains can be removed with professional teeth whitening. However, to achieve ideal results, there are certain things to avoid after treatment, such as foods and drinks that can cause stains. The following overview discusses five things you should avoid to keep your smile bright after teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth whitening aftercare: What to avoid after treatment

You can reduce the risk of teeth stains after teeth whitening treatments by avoiding colored beverages, foods with dark sauce, citrus and acidic fruits, high-sugar foods and drinks, and tobacco products. It is also encouraged to visit the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.

Colored beverages

Colored beverages are one of the most common contributors to teeth stains. This is because so many people consume colored beverages each day. Types of beverages that contribute to teeth stains include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Soft Drinks
• Red Wine
• Fruit Juice
• Beer

The fact is some people are not going to give up their morning cup of coffee. Consuming dark beverages is not something many can realistically avoid altogether, but limiting consumption of these beverages and taking precautions by drinking water throughout the day, and keeping the mouth clean can help reduce the impact these beverages have.

Foods with dark sauce

Sauced-based dishes are also bad for the color shade of natural teeth, especially after teeth whitening treatment. Notably, red sauces and soy sauces can heavily contribute to the development of teeth stains. Reducing the consumption can help, and drinking water with these dishes and practicing good oral hygiene after eating can minimize the impact they can have.

Citrus and acidic fruits

Citrus and acidic fruits can not only contribute to teeth stains, but they can harm your overall oral health as well. This is because they can increase the acidic reaction that occurs when the ingredients combine with bacteria in the mouth. Fruits to avoid (or limit consumption of) include lemons, oranges, limes, kiwis, plums, and mangos.

High-sugar foods and drinks

Most are familiar with the way high-sugar foods and drinks contribute to dental cavities. However, high sugar foods and drinks can also cause teeth stains and jeopardize the results of teeth whitening treatment. Be sure to limit high sugar foods and drinks to ensure the results of teeth whitening lasts for the longest amount of time possible.

Tobacco products

Chewing tobacco and smoke products such as cigarettes can also contribute significantly to teeth stains. In fact, stains from tobacco products often become so severe that they require more extensive treatment as teeth whitening is not enough to remove the stains. Therefore, dentists often recommend limiting or avoiding tobacco use after teeth whitening treatment.

Learn more about keeping your smile bright after treatment

If you are interested in teeth whitening or have not visited the dentist for a check-up in more than six months, then reach out to our team today. We can help you improve your oral health and achieve your cosmetic goals, and we offer professional, in-office teeth whitening treatment.

Request an appointment or call Gregg L Lage DDS, PC at 303-427-4552 for an appointment in our Denver office.