Everyone will concede that a whiter smile is a more beautiful smile. For this reason, more and more people have been opting to have their teeth bleached and whitened, either through in-office, professional procedures or by purchasing over-the-counter teeth whitening kits. However, if you want to keep your newly bleached teeth pearly white for a longer period of time, then be more selective of what you eat.

Stimulate saliva secretion.

Some of the best foods to eat after getting your teeth whitened are those which promote saliva secretion. Most of these foods are vegetables such as apples, carrots, cauliflower, celery and green beans. With every bite of these foods, you stimulate the creation of saliva which acts as a natural mouthwash. Saliva contains enzymes which prevent the overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth that can cause cavities where pigments can pass through to stain teeth. At the same time, saliva neutralizes any kind of acid which you may consume through your diet. These acids could also lead to stained teeth.

Eat dairy products.

Dairy products like your basic milk and cheeses also act to keep your teeth looking whiter for longer. This is because the lactic acid that is found in these products can help to control the growth of harmful bacteria which can cause tooth decay. At the same time, the calcium that is found in these products strengthens your teeth and bones. If you want to dislodge any food particles which may have been trapped in between your teeth, then try eating hard cheeses.

What foods to avoid?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you should avoid eating the following if you want to have a sparkling white smile that is meant to last:

Coffee, tea and wine. These drinks are notorious for staining teeth. In fact, you can tell that a person is a coffee drinker by just looking at the color of his or her teeth. If you cannot avoid chugging these drinks, then try swishing water in between sips.

Soy sauce. If you like eating Chinese, then it’s a good idea to skip using this condiment especially if you just had a teeth whitening procedure done.

Tobacco. This may not be an actual food, but smoking is a sure-fire way of staining your pearly whites. And on top of that, you’ll also have a yellow stained tongue if you do not kick the habit.

photo credit: DOS82 via photopin cc