Getting your braces off is so exciting! You’ve spent many months looking forward to your healthiest smile. Nothing can dampen the moment more than getting your braces off and seeing dark stains or white spot lesions. Luckily, you can avoid all this if you follow our advice. We want to help you keep your pearly whites beautiful during treatment and for years to come!
Why do teeth stain?
It’s important to remember that braces will not cause staining, but not taking care of your teeth will.
If not cleaned properly, brackets and wires offer space for bacteria and food particles to hide and build up. When this happens and plaque develops, it creates white decalcified patches and increases your risk for gum disease and tooth decay. Then, when we remove your braces, you can see the darkened spots where plaque built up around your bracket, while the rest of the tooth is a normal shade. Dark beverages or foods, like coffee or tea, can also stain if you don’t brush after eating and drinking. Without good oral hygiene, dyes, acids, and compounds called tannins can darken your smile, potentially leaving behind white spots where your brackets once were.
How to avoid staining with braces
Here are our top tips for a show-stopping smile!
- Brush your teeth after every meal: There is no skipping out on your oral care routine! The best way to protect your teeth from cavities, decay, gum disease, and stains is to follow a thorough oral hygiene routine. Hygiene is particularly crucial with braces or clear aligners. Brush and floss after every meal, snack, or non-water drink so plaque never has the opportunity to build up and stain your teeth.
- Avoid whitening products: While it may seem counterintuitive, save whitening treatments for after orthodontic treatment. Since brackets or attachments are affixed to teeth, using a whitening product will cause your smile to whiten unevenly, leaving behind spots.
- Avoid foods that stain: It can be hard to stop eating and drinking your favorite things during treatment. But do your best to limit common teeth-staining foods or drinks, like coffee, tea, soda, and products with food coloring.
- Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash: One way to avoid stains is to use the right toothpaste and mouthwash. Ask your orthodontist for recommendations for products with fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent demineralization of your enamel, reducing your risk for staining and helping strengthen the enamel.
- Regular dental cleanings: Don’t skip out on your routine dental checkups every six months while undergoing orthodontic treatment. These regular cleanings help remove tartar and plaque you may have missed during your daily routine and promote a healthy, white smile.
Schedule a free consultation appointment
Want to learn more about how to keep your teeth pearly white? Reach out to our office with any questions you have! If you’re looking for a smile upgrade, come into our office for a complimentary consultation. You deserve your best smile.