What to eat after cosmetic dental treatments

What to eat after cosmetic dental treatments

If you’re due to have cosmetic dental treatments, you’ll need to consider your post-treatment diet carefully. This isn’t just food; the drink choices you make are important too. Whether you’ve had a dental implant (or several), teeth whitening, braces, composite bonding or other treatments, making appropriate diet choices is necessary. Post-cosmetic dental care is crucial, and knowing what to eat after dental surgery will make a huge difference in your recovery.

The link between diet and dental health

What you eat (and drink) doesn’t just affect your waistline. It has a big impact on your teeth too. With a poor diet, you’re more at risk of:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Staining
• Enamel erosion
• Tooth loss.

Sugary snacks feed harmful bacteria. This leads to plaque and then cavities. Acidic foods are also a problem as are fizzy drinks. This is because they wear down the enamel over time. Your teeth are then more sensitive and prone to damage. And foods with a deep pigment are the prime culprits of staining.

Your teeth are even more vulnerable while they heal or adjust after cosmetic dental treatments. Having veneers, bonding and whitening can also mean you’re more sensitive to damage or staining afterwards. And if you’ve got implants or braces, you’ll need to keep your gums and jaw healthy and inflammation-free.

Foods that can damage your cosmetic dental work

When you’re investing in cosmetic dental treatments, it makes sense to protect them afterwards.

Here’s what to watch out for:

• Acidic drinks. Fizzy drinks, citrus juices and even coffee should be limited. These can weaken enamel. They make teeth more prone to sensitivity and staining. After bonding or whitening, your teeth are particularly vulnerable.
• Sticky or hard foods. Think boiled sweets, toffees or even ice. This can dislodge bonding, crack veneers or damage implants. They’re also tough on braces.
• Staining foods and drinks. Red wine. Soy sauce. Tomato-based sauces. Dark berries. These can undo your whitening treatment faster than you might think.
• Excess sugar. This fuels bacteria in the mouth. And the risk of decay is higher. If you have crowns, veneers or bonding, too much sugar could cause issues to develop at the margins.

The bottom line? Limit these foods and rinse your mouth with water after eating anything that could erode or stain. Small changes can help your cosmetic dental work last longer, and look better.

Foods that can benefit your cosmetic dental work

Just like some foods are more harmful, there are foods you can eat that can help protect and maintain your dental work.

The right diet can support healing, boost oral health and help you have longer-lasting results.

Here’s what to load up on:

• High-calcium foods. Eat lots of dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) and leafy greens (kale, spinach). These are high in calcium. They help strengthen enamel and support bone health. This is crucial after implants or other restorative treatments.
• Water-rich foods. Cucumber, celery and apples have a high water content. These naturally cleanse your teeth and stimulate saliva. This washes food particles and bacteria away.
• Anti-inflammatory foods. Fatty fish, green tea, turmeric and berries promote healthy gums. They aid in post-treatment recovery.
• Neutralising drinks. Drinks like milk, water and green tea can help balance pH levels in your mouth. They reduce the impact of acids from other foods.

Lifestyle and dental health

Of course, your diet plays a big role in your dental health. But it’s not the only thing that matters.

Daily habits and lifestyle choices can make or break the results of your cosmetic dental treatments.

A few key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid smoking. Tobacco stains teeth. It also slows healing and increases the risk of gum disease. This can cause implant failure.
• Don’t use your teeth as tools. Opening bottles, tearing packets or biting nails. These are all ways you shouldn’t use your teeth! This leads to chips, cracks and long-term damage.
• Brush and floss regularly. Keep your mouth clean and plaque-free. A good routine is twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and daily flossing.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to maintain saliva flow. Drinking water also washes away food debris and neutralises acids in your mouth.

Looking after your teeth doesn’t stop when you leave the dental chair. By making small, consistent choices every day, you can protect the treatment’s results – and keep your teeth looking their best for longer.

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