Stained Teeth From Braces… What Do I Do?

Braces are a trend nowadays. It seems they are in great demand from children and adults alike, and rightfully so. There is nothing you can wear that is prettier than a smile, and braces can help you achieve just that. Cosmetic dentistry is on the rise, and so are braces. Braces can treat crooked teeth, crowded teeth, gapped teeth, jaw size mismatch, and many more problems that can affect your smile.

However, there are a few downsides to braces that can often make some people not go for them, and these often have to do with their appearance. The looks of metallic braces are not easily tolerated by some people – particularly adults – and so some newer, more esthetic forms of braces have emerged, including clear braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign. Another problem related to the appearance of braces is how they tend to stain the teeth on which they are attached. So if you have or are scared of getting stained teeth from braces, read on to find out how to prevent and get rid of these nasty stains.

Why Are Stains So Common With Braces?

Braces by design invite food and plaque accumulation around them. They have little grooves on all sides where the wire fits and the circular elastics attach. These areas are very difficult to clean and always tend to trap food and debris. More often than not, these foods have heavy stains in them, and they transfer these stains to the teeth’ surface.

Drinks with stains – such as coffee and tea – can also cause staining. These not only penetrate the food remnants around the braces and stain them, but they can reach the very thin layer of glue between the brackets and the teeth – which is usually white or transparent in color – and they stain them brown or black.

The end result is teeth staining around the brackets, and generalized teeth staining when they are removed.

How To Prevent Teeth Staining With Braces

If you caught on early to the fact that stained teeth with braces are very common, there are a few things you can do to try and minimize these stains, such as:

• Try to avoid “stainy” food:

  Most foods and drinks have stains in them, but some more than others. Coffee, tea, beats, among others, are very famous for being rich in stains. You would do well to try to avoid these items, or at least minimize their consumption.
  Citrus fruits and vegetables, as well as fizzy drinks, should also be avoided. They don’t cause stains per se, but they risk demineralizing the teeth’ surface. Demineralization means the formation of micro irregularities on the teeth surface, which in turn invite stains as well as bacteria, and you may end up with cavities instead of stains.

• Up your oral hygiene game:

  Oral hygiene is of the utmost importance, and doubly so with braces. As we explained before, braces by design invite food and debris to be trapped. The normal brushing and flossing methods just wouldn’t cut it with braces. That’s why we advise you to use an electric toothbrush, with a specialized apparatus for flossing known as the water flosser.

• Avoid staining mouthwashes:

  Mouthwash is a very important aspect of oral hygiene, especially with braces. They can penetrate the difficult to clean areas around the braces and between the teeth, resulting in an overall cleaner mouth. However, some types of mouthwashes are rich in stains – such as those with Chlorohexidine – and therefore can add to the effect of stained teeth with braces. You should use a mouthwash that is transparent, and devoid of Chlorhexidine. Your orthodontist can help you make the right choice.

• Select a type of braces that is not so stain-inviting:

  There are many options for braces, including metal, clear, lingual braces, and Invisalign. Generally speaking, the fixed type of braces – these are metal, clear and lingual braces – have the same design, and therefore all invite stains to be formed. Lingual braces are a bit different since they are attached to the inner surface of the teeth. So even if they do stain, the stains are virtually invisible.
  The removable type of braces – Invisalign – is entirely different. They can be removed during eating and teeth brushing, and they have no items attached to the surface of the teeth. So not only do they stain less, but they make teeth cleaning a lot easier. If you opt for Invisalign, you may not have to face the “stained teeth with braces” problem at all.

How To Treat Stained Teeth From Braces

If the problem already happened, worry not. Most of the stains can be removed either during the treatment or after the braces are removed.

• During the treatment:

  All you have to do is keep up with your appointments with your orthodontist as well as your hygienist. With regular cleaning, most of the stains will be removed from the surface of the teeth, and what little remains will be removed after the treatment is finished.

• After the treatment:

  After the braces are removed, taking care of the stains becomes very easy. The normal after braces cleaning procedure involves removing remnants of the glue used to hold them in place. Your orthodontist will use a turbine or an ultrasonic cleaner, and most of the stains are removed along with it. Whatever little stains remain can be removed with a polishing brush and some polishing paste.
  In some rare situations, the stains are more than they seem. They can be deeper set or can even be cavities. This normally doesn’t happen if you take care of your oral hygiene and keep up with your appointments. However, if that happens, usually the cavities are very small and shallow and are easily removed and filled with a composite, tooth-colored filling.

All in all, stained teeth with braces are bound to happen. It is just the way braces are designed. All you can do is be on the lookout for signs of heavy staining or demineralization, and keep up with both your orthodontic appointments as well as the cleaning appointments.