Q: “Can I eat or drink after teeth whitening?”

A: Once patients have successfully undergone teeth whitening, their teeth become more susceptible to staining. For example, most dentists do not recommend using colored toothpastes and mouthwashes, as they pose a risk at this stage. Many foods, drinks and dental health products pose a risk. Bananas are one of the few fruits that are completely safe from staining teeth. Each method of teeth whitening varies regarding when it is safe to expose teeth to staining elements. 

Foods and drinks that don’t stain teeth

Here’s a list of foods and beverages that are known not to stain teeth:

• Plain cereals
• Plain pastas or pastas with white sauces
• Plain chicken
• Turkey
• Peeled potatoes
• Baked or poached white fish
• White rice
• White onions
• White cheese
• Egg whites
• White bread with no crust
• Rice Krispies
• Cauliflower
• White yogurt (avoid colored or fruit on the bottom)
• Clear sodas
• Lemonade (not pink or with other fruits)
• Sparkling water
• Still water
• Cow milk (2% or whole)
• Cocktails made with clear alcohol and mixers
• Coconut water
• White wine

Keeping teeth as white as possible can be a difficult process. We recommend being mindful of what you eat, drink and use on your teeth once you have invested in teeth whitening improvements. One of the most important things to remember is that water will be your best friend. 

Smoking poses a serious risk to white teeth. Electronic cigarettes can only be used in moderation for minimal staining. 

We recommend using extreme caution with your diet and drinking plenty of water.