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People who have decided to whiten their teeth often make one mistake that destroys the effects of the procedure itself. When they come down from the dentist’s chair, they think that the whitening process is over and that they can come back to the life they had before visiting the dentist. Meanwhile, the period of a few weeks after is as important as the whitening itself. To maintain its effects, for some time you should use the so-called white diet.
What is the white diet?
A white diet is nothing more than a diet that eliminates from the menu any products that could potentially stain freshly whitened tooth enamel. It is irrelevant whether the products contain artificial or natural dyes – both are harmful to the color of the teeth.
The purpose of the white diet is stopping the whitening effects and protecting the treated teeth from dye absorption for as long as possible. However, the point is not that the diet after the procedure is to be limited only to single, dye-free ingredients. Nothing could be further from the truth – it should be just as diverse. But the point is that it should consist of as many light products, preferably white ones, as possible.
How long have I been on a white diet?
Within 2 hours after the procedure, you should refrain from any drinking or eating. You also cannot chew gum, brush or rinse your teeth. The only thing we can drink during this time is a few sips of clean water. Within 48 hours, it is not advisable to eat coloring products or drink sweet drinks, the dyes of which may settle on the rough surface of the tooth after whitening.
However, to enhance the whitening effect, dentists recommend extending the period of using a white diet up to 14 days after the procedure. Much depends on what method of teeth whitening we use. If you have doubts about how long to follow the appropriate diet, it is worth consulting your dentist.
See what the whitening of problematic teeth looks like:
- dead teeth whitening
- teeth whitening and fillings
- teeth whitening and braces
- can all teeth be whitened?
Products allowed
So that the white diet makes sense should be based on non-coloring products, but also as varied as possible. When composing your daily meals, it is worth knowing what ingredients may be included in the diet. These are:
- dairy products – milk, kefir, buttermilk, natural yoghurt, white cheese, butter, curdled milk;
- meat and seafood – white fish, chicken, turkey, shrimp, clams;
- vegetables – potatoes, kohlrabi, garlic, cauliflower, white paragus, white beans, celery, cucumber, parsley, zucchini;
- cereals and seeds – white rice, white bread, barley and millet.
You can drink water without lemon and milk. When preparing meals from products permitted in the white diet, the use of spices should be limited – white pepper and salt are allowed.
As an auxiliary, it is worth using Perlax whitening and antibacterial toothpaste, which supports the maintenance of white teeth.
Prohibited Products
The list of products prohibited in the white diet includes:
- fruit – blueberries, blueberries, cherries, currants, blackberries, raspberries and jams, compotes and preserves prepared from them;
- vegetables – tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, beets, spinach and soups prepared from them;
- candy;
- meat – beef, veal, pork, game;
- dairy products – yoghurts with fruit, yellow cheese, smoked cheese, processed cheese;
- spices – especially paprika, curry, turmeric, cinnamon;
- cocoa.
You should give up drinking coffee, tea, fruit juices, compotes, colored alcohols and carbonated drinks.
Not all diets are healthy and safe for our body. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting any diet, even if you do not have any health concerns.
When choosing a diet, never follow the current fashion. Remember that some diets, incl. low in particular nutrients or strongly limiting calories, and mono-diets can be debilitating for the body, carry a risk of eating disorders, and can also increase appetite, contributing to a quick return to the former weight.
Other recommendations after whitening
It is forbidden to smoke cigarettes, which can discolor our teeth to a greater extent than before the whitening treatment. Since our teeth will be particularly sensitive during the first days, it is worth avoiding very hot or cold meals, as their contact with the teeth can cause great pain. Drink through a straw to reduce the risk.
If one of the illegal products appears in it during the use of the white diet, immediately rinse the mouth thoroughly after eating it.
For dental care, it is worth using ApaCare Repair Tooth Remineralization Gel, which makes the teeth smoother and whitened.