Whitening your teeth with the SnapWhite™ whitening kit and Daily White™ Fusion™ that comes with your aligners is a great way to whiten your smile, but what can you do to help your new smile stay pearly white?
Oddly enough, the food you eat may stain your teeth, or keep them stain-free. Let’s take a look at some foods that keep your teeth clear of stains.
Apples and Pears
Fruits that contain fiber clean the teeth when they brush up against the surface of the tooth, and they increase saliva flow, which also helps your teeth stay clean. They freshen breath, too!
Strawberries
Not only are they healthy, but they contain malic acid, which whitens the teeth. They do not penetrate the enamel to provide long-lasting whitening results, but they do help your teeth stay white in the short-term if you eat enough of them.
Consuming these items is no substitute for cleaning your teeth, and certainly won’t have the lasting results that the whitening products that come with your aligners will, but they are recommended for anyone hoping to fight stains. Just remember to brush your teeth after eating these, especially before putting your aligners back in, because fruits are loaded with sugar, which you don’t want sticking around!
Now that we have talked about some foods you can eat to fight stains, here are some consumables that it is best to avoid, or enjoy in moderation.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges and grapefruit may be healthy for the body, but the same is not true for the teeth. The citric acid in these fruits erode your enamel, making it easier for stains to set in.
Drinking your orange or grapefruit juice with a to-go lid or a straw will help minimize the amount of citric-acid-filled juice that makes contact with your teeth.
Coffee and Tea
It is no secret that coffee and tea stain the teeth. However, coffee also makes any acidic foods you eat afterwards damage your teeth more than they would otherwise. Tea actually stains teeth more than coffee, and even an herbal tea can do damage.
If you are a tea or coffee drinker, use a to-go lid.
Be sure to enjoy these items in moderation, brush your teeth right away, and use a to-go lid for your coffee. Even with a to-go lid, take your aligners out before enjoying hot beverages.