You want bright white teeth. But you also want a straight smile. How can you have both? If you have braces, take a look at what you need to know about whitening.
Will Braces Stain Your Teeth?
The brackets and wires of traditional braces shouldn't cause cosmetic damage on their own. But that doesn't mean your teeth won't stain when you have braces.
What you eat and drink, and how you care for your teeth, can result in staining — whether you have braces or not. Orthodontic patients often need to pay special attention to their healthy mouth routine to avoid stains and other unwelcome dental issues. This includes regular brushing and flossing.
Along with brushing and flossing, avoid sugary foods and drinks. These can leave behind plaque buildup around your brackets and cause permanent stains. If you do eat a sugar-filled treat, choose a non-sticky type of food. Sticky candies (such as hard candies, taffy, or gummies) can wedge themselves around brackets and make dental care tricky.
Always brush immediately after eating sugary foods. The same goes for foods and beverages that are known to stain teeth. Red wine, dark juices, coffee, and tea can all leave behind stains. While you might not notice the stains during your orthodontic treatment, you will see an obvious change after the orthodontist removes your braces.
Can You Whiten Teeth with Braces?
If staining agents, such as coffee or tea, can get under the brackets of your braces to discolor your teeth, can a whitening product do the same in the opposite direction? Simply stated — no. While a whitening toothpaste, strips, or gels can brighten the exposed surfaces of your teeth, these products won't do much to change the color under your brackets.
Not only are whitening products ineffective when it comes to brightening under your brackets but any use during orthodontic treatment can result in an uneven overall color. After the orthodontist removes your braces you're likely to see noticeably darker marks where the brackets were, even if you don’t have stains.
Beyond the cosmetic issues, whitening with braces can also result in irritation. Some whitening products increase teeth and gum sensitivity. Combine this with the sensitivity braces can also cause and you may add unnecessary discomfort to your orthodontic treatment.
Can You Use a Whitening Toothpaste with Braces?
Unlike in-office bleaching, strips, or gels, whitening toothpastes typically won't help you to achieve a significantly brighter smile. While paste products won't give you a Hollywood-style smile, they may also whiten your teeth just enough to cause a noticeable difference in the color behind the brackets.
If you have concerns about the potential for discoloration, stay away from whitening toothpaste while you have braces. Instead, choose a fluoride-containing paste product approved by theAmerican Dental Association (ADA).
Should You Whiten Your Teeth After Braces?
Provided the dentist or orthodontist doesn't advise against it, most orthodontic patients can whiten after braces. If you choose to whiten after braces:
- Talk to a professional. A dental professional can help you to choose the product that's best for your individual needs. This may include an in-office whitening process or an at-home gel, paste, or strip type of product.
- Understand the stains. Do you have extrinsic (outer) or intrinsic (inner) stains? If you have intrinsic staining, whitening may not work to solve your dental dilemma.
- Make sure your orthodontic treatment is over. Are you satisfied with your straight smile? If you need further treatment, you may want to hold off on whitening.
- Address sensitivity. If your teeth are still sensitive from the orthodontic treatment, wait until you're sure whitening won't add excessive irritation.
If months or years of braces have left you wanting a quick fix for your not-so-bright smile, an in-office whitening treatment is the way to go. This option won't take days or weeks to give you the smile you've waited for.
Do you need braces? Contact the office of Donald E. Snyder Orthodonticsfor more information.
