Daily maintenance, biannual cleaning, headgear, braces, retainers, and more–the lengths we’ll go to for a smile we’re proud to show off are endless. If you’re thinking about adding professional teeth whitening to that list, you might have a lot of questions. How long after teeth whitening until can you eat normally? What is the recovery time? Are there risks?
At Smiley Dental, we help our customers find the ideal whitening routine for their smile and lifestyle. If you’re concerned about having to restrict your diet, we can advise you on a plan that allows you to eat normally soon after whitening.
Understanding Teeth Whitening
Getting your teeth whitened can be a high ROI procedure for your self-confidence. But before you commit, talking to your dentist to understand any potential side effects is crucial. At Smiley Dental, we prioritize your safety and guide you through the process, ensuring you’re comfortable and informed. The most common issues patients encounter with teeth whitening are gum irritation and increased tooth sensitivity due to the peroxide solutions. Note that the tooth-whitening process is not advised for those with overly sensitive teeth, gum/mouth disease, worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, or with caps, crowns, veneers, or filings.
If your dentist gives you the go-ahead and you’re comfortable with what they tell you, start reviewing your options. Some teeth whiteners must be done in the office, but others can be completed at home. Before you begin the process, it’s essential to know if whiteners will be able to address your problem areas or not. Generally speaking, the process is the most helpful for those dealing with:
- Darkening of teeth with age
- Age spots
- Yellow or orange spotting on teeth caused by coffees, teas, berries, and other foods, or smoking
- Teeth with healthy tooth enamel
- Fluoridated water spots
- Smoking or medicinal spots
The Whitening Process
The main active ingredient in teeth-whitening products is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, another common ingredient, are part of a chemical reaction that physically changes the color of teeth. The bleaching chemicals diffuse through teeth enamel to the pulp within minutes, interacting with their molecules and beginning the whitening process.
There are three main stain types that whitening processes can help: extrinsic, intrinsic, and combination. Extrinsic stains are caused by eating foods or ingesting elements such as coffee, wine, and metal salts that stain the exterior of your teeth. Intrinsic stains are caused by genetic conditions, natural aging fluorosis, or antibiotics from childhood that stain the interior of your teeth. Combination stains are a mix of the two. How white your teeth end up depends on the type of stain being addressed and the length of treatment.
In-Office Treatments
Many teeth-whitening agents are available, depending on how severe you want to see a change. For more extensive color changes, in-office bleaching will be your best bet. It can be completed in one visit. The whitening agents used at your dentist’s office use a higher concentration than those you can buy at the store, but it may take several sessions to get the desired result. Plus, going into the office can get expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
Laser whitening. During laser whitening, a gel is applied to your teeth, which are then exposed to blue light. The blue light breaks down the gel, activating the chemicals to start whitening them and breaking down stains or discolorations. It’s fast and convenient, takes less than an hour, and immediately shows results.
LED treatments. Similar to lasers, LED whitening treatments involve applying a gel to your teeth. The LED light then breaks down the gel and bleaching agent. LED treatments are fast and safe, with long-lasting results that are typically noticeable after a single session.
At-Home Treatments
At-home bleaching products involve a brief trip to the dentist, who will take scans for a custom tray manufactured to fit your unique mouth shape to ensure the whitening agent is evenly distributed across your teeth. Your dentist will either make the tray in the office or send it to a dental lab. When they’re ready, you’ll take another trip to the office so they can show you how to insert them properly for optimal results. The whitening process will take around an hour a day for two weeks.
Over-the-Counter Whitening
Finally, over-the-counter whitening treatments are a good match for basic light whitening. These include gels and pastes that you apply with a toothbrush or may come as sticky strips. While you won’t see as dramatic of an improvement as you might with an in-office treatment, you’ll still notice a difference. Other over-the-counter whitening treatments include toothpaste, trays, rinses, and pens.
Whitening rinses. Whitening rinses, or mouthwashes, use bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide, which react with the chromogens—a colorless chemical compound—in your teeth. This whitening agent works particularly well on exterior stains that have been built up over time. Most rinses are recommended to be used twice a day, 60 seconds each, for a few months.
Whitening pens. Whitening pens are ideal for small areas or can be used for touch-ups after a more extensive process. They’re tubes that contain gel made of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide and are meant to be used after brushing your teeth. Put a thin gel layer over the top and let it dry.
Maintaining your Smile: Tips Beyond the First Few Days
After you finish the tooth-whitening process, you’ll want to ensure you get the most out of your investment. An easy way to do this is by paying close attention to your dentist’s “what not to eat after teeth whitening” list. Most recommend avoiding strong-colored and acidic foods. At the same time, the whitening material takes effect and follows the “white diet” the first few days afterward. You can return to a regular diet once you’ve passed the first few days after treatment. The “white diet” consists of mainly white foods such as:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fish
- Rice
- Eggs
- Baked goods
Other Tips to Follow
- Use straws. When you use straws, whatever liquid you ingest doesn’t pass directly through your teeth. This minimizes the chance of your newly whitened teeth getting stained.
- Use floss. Floss once a day to remove all the food particles from your teeth, as debris can gather along your gums and between your teeth. This will cause plaque to build up, dimming your brightened smile.
- Brush regularly. To keep your teeth white, brush twice daily. Take it a step further and brush after every meal. Also, check with your dentist to ensure you have the right toothbrush to avoid wearing down your enamel.
- Make whiteners. Brush your teeth with baking soda every once in a while to give them an at-home polish. Store-bought whiteners can be tough on teeth, but baking soda is a gentler option.
- Change toothpastes. To help maintain the color change, it’s recommended that you use whitening toothpaste once or twice a week. Unsure which one is efficient? Ask your dentist for their preference.
- Always rinse. Remember to rinse your mouth out anytime you eat or drink to remove or at least loosen debris that may have gotten in your teeth and gums. Antiseptic mouthwash is best.
- Make changes. Consider making lifestyle changes, like smoking and drinking colored alcohol that might damage the success rate of the whitening kit.
- Get touch-ups. Regular touch-up treatments will help your teeth whitening last the longest. Talk with your dentist to determine how often you could benefit from them.
- Maintain check-ups. To keep your teeth healthy, ensure you’re attending your six-month check-ups. If your dentist suggests coming sooner, be sure to do so so they can examine your progress.
- Alternate drinks. If you enjoy beverages prone to staining teeth, like coffee or tea, alternate each sip with water. The water will wash away dark liquids before they sink into your enamel.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
The first thing to know about teeth whitening is that only some methods work best for everyone. Finding the one that works best for you could take a couple of tries. While searching, you may have many questions. One big question you might have is, “How long after teeth whitening can I eat normally?” Smiley Dental has the answers to that question and more.
What Can You Drink After Teeth Whitening?
After whitening your teeth, you can drink water, milk, white lemonade, coconut water, tonic water, white wine, and clear spirits. However, you should avoid coffee, black tea, wine, fizzy drinks, and fruit juices.
What Can You Eat After Teeth Whitening?
When wondering what to eat after whitening teeth, reach for chicken, turkey, fish, rice, eggs, baked goods, plain cereals, bananas, egg whites, plain pasta with white sauce, and cauliflower. Avoid acidic, pigmented foods such as dark sauces and fruits, curry, sweets, dark chocolate, and tobacco.
How Long After Teeth Whitening Can You Eat Normally?
If you ask, “What can I eat after teeth whitening?” you should also find out how long it will take you to eat normally. Generally speaking, you can return to your regular eating habits 24–72 hours after whitening your teeth.
Are There Side Effects to Teeth Whitening?
The most common side effect reportedly linked to teeth whitening is temporary tooth sensitivity. The hydrogen peroxide released from the whitening agent may also cause mouth and gum irritation. Repeatedly whitening your teeth longer than recommended can permanently damage your enamel.
Smiley Dental– Because There’s a Whole Lot to Smile About
Your smile is something you should feel proud of. It’s one of your most unique and beautiful features. But sometimes, certain aspects of your smile, like its color, leave you self-conscious. Sound familiar? If you’re struggling with confidence, it might be time to make a change. At Smiley Dental, we offer affordable prices to help our customers get a smile that truly shines through reliable teeth whitening procedures and more.
Your pearly whites will remain bright if you follow your dentist’s advice, make lifestyle changes, adhere to a minimally acidic diet, and choose the best treatment for your needs. Call Smiley Dental to learn more about what to eat after teeth whitening and the best products on the market.
