A teeth whitening appointment is a great way to give your smile a boost. However, if you want to keep your teeth looking their best long after you’ve left the dentist, you’ll need to think about the food and beverages you eat. Here, Oahu Dental Care of Pearl City and Kahala explains how you can still enjoy five different foods and beverages while still maintaining your pearly whites:

• Coffee & Tea: Don’t worry, you don’t have to give up your caffeine fix. In order to prevent these dark liquids from discoloring your teeth, you can always add milk or cream to lighten them up.

• Cola: You already know that sugary soda is an enemy of your teeth, but diet soda isn’t exactly friendly, either. That’s because the dark liquid, just like coffee and tea, can cause teeth stains. Oahu Dental Care suggests switching to clear seltzer so you can still enjoy a bubbly beverage.
• Cranberry Juice: This healthy drink’s downside is its highly acidic nature, which can wreak havoc on your teeth. Try using a straw next time you sip, or pour some seltzer and make it a spritzer to tone down the dark color, which also stains teeth. Of course, you can always bite into an apple instead; it’s a natural teeth cleanser!
• Blueberries: Blueberries have antioxidants, which far outweigh any trouble they cause your teeth. Oahu Dental Care suggests that you continue to enjoy these berries, but give your teeth a good brush soon after eating.
• Tomato Sauce: It’s delicious, but it stains your teeth, too. Make room for marinara and other red sauces by filling up your plate with veggies, too. Green vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, or spinach actually work to protect your teeth against staining.

If you’d like to freshen up your smile, make a teeth whitening appointment at Oahu Dental Care. For more information about this and other cosmetic dentistry services, including porcelain veneers, call (808) 456-5005 in Pearl City or (808) 732-2821 in Kahala. Visit the family dental practice on the web to learn more.