Will my Teeth get yellow or white stains after Orthodontic Braces?

Orthodontic Braces are a prolonged treatment option which requires anywhere from 1 year to 2 years of treatment and this means wearing Braces all this while. This tends to lead to discoloration of the teeth to some extent and after going through with the Orthodontic treatment, the last thing you want to see is your teeth turn Yellow. The yellowing of teeth can be due to multiple reasons after wearing Orthodontic Braces. 

The main thing is to not panic and go for an aggressive treatment plan immediately after removing braces as this can lead to permanent damage to your teeth. It usually takes a few days to a week for the teeth color to turn to normal after removal of Dental Braces and following Oral Prophylaxis.  In case you are not satisfied with the result, you can go for Teeth Whitening which is the best option. 

What are the causes of Teeth turning Yellow while wearing Braces?

1. Inability to Brush your teeth properly due to Braces
2. Staining of the Composite or adhesive material used to hold the Bracket in place
3. Smoking or Chewing tobacco products while wearing braces is one of the major causes for staining of teeth (in Smokers) as the Nicotine in the cigarette tends to adhere to the braces or the rough surfaces around the braces and stain the teeth yellow. 

What are the Steps to be taken to avoid Yellowing Staining of Teeth while wearing Braces?

The first and Foremost thing to consider to have a successful Orthodontic treatment is to maintain Good Oral Hygiene, this constitutes – Brushing twice a day and brushing properly. Use an Orthodontic Brush (ask your dentist) which helps you reach in between the braces and clean out any food debris which might be stuck. 

The second most important point is to regularly Floss, there are special Floss available for people using braces. In case you are finding it difficult to Floss, you can use a Water Pick or Water Flosser which helps in cleaning more easily between Braces. 

• How to Prevent Ceramic Braces from Staining

Avoid Food which can Stain – Such Food include Sodas, any colored food items like fast food which include food colors, excess consumption of Tea etc are items which can lead to Staining of teeth. 

Invisalign as an alternative to Regular Metal or Ceramic Braces: In case you are reading this before getting your braces on, you can consider Invisalign as an alternative to traditional braces. These are the latest mode of treatment which is removable and can be cleaned easily as well. They give all the benefits of traditional braces but are easy to use and aesthetically pleasing. 

How to Whiten Yellow Teeth due to Braces:

There are just two viable options for fixing Yellow teeth after Orthodontic Treatment or Braces – Oral Prophylaxis (Scaling and Polishing) and Teeth Whitening

Oral Prophylaxis: This involves scaling which also helps in removal of any remaining adhesive material or Composite restoration from the surface of the teeth which can be the cause of the stain and Polishing. This is done with the help of a polishing paste and a polishing cup or brush to smoothen any roughness or discoloration on the surface of the tooth. In most cases, the Yellowish discoloration of teeth is fixed but if they are still persistent, the next treatment option is Teeth Whitening. 

Teeth Whitening: This is a more invasive mode of treatment which involves use of Chemical materials to Whiten your Yellowish teeth, there are two types – In Office bleaching and At Home Bleaching as the name suggests one is performed at the Dental Office and the other at home. You can opt for any of it by consulting your Dentist and get your teeth back to their pearly white state.