Whitening
Korean food after teeth whitening: what to eat and what to skip for 48 hours
A practical 'white diet' for Seoul: which Korean dishes are safe after whitening, which stain, and easy swaps for your trip.
By Dr. Kang Jun-guMedically reviewed by Dr. Kang Jun-guPublished Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
For 48 hours after whitening, choose light-coloured food such as samgyetang, seolleongtang, white rice, tofu, chicken and plain noodles, and skip kimchi, gochujang and soy-based dishes, coffee, tea, red wine and cola. If you do have something coloured, rinse with water straight after.
Safe choices in Seoul
- Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)
- Seolleongtang and gomtang (beef bone soups)
- White rice, juk (rice porridge) and plain kalguksu
- Tofu, eggs, chicken, white fish and milk
Skip for 48 hours
- Kimchi and kimchi stew
- Tteokbokki, bibimbap with gochujang, spicy stews
- Bulgogi and other soy-marinated dishes
- Coffee, black or green tea, red wine, cola and berry smoothies
If you can't avoid it
Rinse with plain water right after eating or drinking, use a straw for coloured drinks, and brush gently about 30 minutes later.
Questions people also ask
Can I drink soju or beer after whitening?
Clear drinks are less likely to stain than red wine, but alcohol can increase sensitivity. If you drink, keep it light and rinse with water.
Is milk tea or latte OK?
It's better to wait 48 hours. If you can't, a very milky latte through a straw is less staining than black coffee.
Need this looked at in Seoul?
Check-ups, scaling and whitening, with fees shown before we start.
Dr. Kang is a board-certified Integrated Dentistry specialist trained at Yonsei, Harvard and Columbia. He treats every patient at the Gongdeok clinic himself.
About Dr. KangHow we write these guides: each guide is written from questions our patients ask, reviewed by Dr. Kang, and updated when guidance changes. It is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, please book a check-up.
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