Getting your teeth whitened with laser teeth whitening gives you a pearly white smile. Now it’s your job to keep your fangs white by practicing good teeth maintenance after your treatment. It’s crucial that you follow the appropriate procedures, especially for the first 48 hours after receiving your Xpress whitening treatment.
Food Choices
Be careful what you eat after a whitening treatment. Limit your diet to colorless beverages and foods if possible to prevent discoloration of your chompers. Other foods to avoid include:
- Pickles
- Berries
- Red or soy sauces
- Soft drinks
- Potato chips
- Chocolate
- Curry
- Green vegetables
- Vinegar
- Acidic fruits
No Smoking
Do not smoke after your treatment. Smoking causes your pearly whites to become discolored, especially if you do it immediately after your procedure.
Beverages
Stick to drinking only water for the first two days following your procedure to limit the risk of discoloration. Beverages to avoid include:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Wine
- Dark-colored sodas
Toothpaste
Use white toothpaste instead of a multicolor, green, blue, or another color. It’s possible for the color in the toothpaste to seep into the pores of your ivory immediately after whitening. Follow the same rule for mouthwash and use products with fluoride to strengthen your fangs.
Long-term Maintenance
Your chompers will stay white for a long time following the treatment, but you can take measures to ensure that the brightness remains as long as possible. Select toothpaste specifically for whitening and brush at least twice a day. Don’t forget to floss after eating to get rid of particles that can be stuck in your teeth and to limit the amount of plaque that builds up in between your professional cleanings. Practicing these healthy dental habits, especially after a professional whitening treatment, will help keep your smile bright and shiny white.
If you do want to consume foods that can lead to discoloration, brush them no more than 20 minutes after eating to get the particles that cause staining off of the enamel on your pearly whites.
Why the Limitations?
The rules after getting laser teeth whitening are so strict because during the whitening process pores on your teeth open up. They won’t close completely after the procedure so it’s easier for your teeth to become discolored. You need to wait until the pores close completely before you can resume eating the foods you normally would, keeping in mind that certain foods will stain your teeth whether or not you have professional whitening treatments done.
The process might seem a bit intimidating, especially considering the limitations on what you can eat or drink immediately after, but the results speak for themselves. You’ll have the confidence to walk around with a big smile on your face as you show off how pearly white your teeth are after your Xpress whitening treatment. Follow proper teeth maintenance tips and get regular cleanings every six months to keep your teeth looking as bright and healthy as possible.