If you’ve just had your braces removed, you may have noticed that your teeth developed blemishes throughout your treatment. This can happen because clearing plaque off your enamel around the square metal brackets is challenging. As a result, bacteria in the sticky residue leech minerals from your teeth, leaving white splotches behind.
Thankfully, your orthodontist can provide whitening treatments to address unsightly discoloration, but you must consult with your provider before proceeding. Continue reading to learn 3 reasons why!
Consideration #1: Identify the Type of Discoloration
Did you know that there’s more than one type of dental stain? For example, frequent or prolonged exposure to darkly pigmented foods like coffee, tea, wine, or berries can leave your grin looking more yellow or brown than pearly white. This type of extrinsic issue can often be addressed effectively with a topical treatment like professional teeth whitening.
However, blemishes that originate in or seep into the lower layers of dentin may not respond well to bleaches. Other services, like fluoride treatments or dental bonding, are sometimes necessary to restore your enamel and reduce the appearance of intrinsic stains. Your orthodontist can help identify the type of discoloration you’re dealing with so it can be handled accordingly.
Consideration #2: Ensure Your Mouth is Clean
Topical teeth whitening is considered minimally invasive because it’s a simple, straightforward procedure that doesn’t involve scalpels, needles, or surgeries. However, your provider must examine your mouth before you undergo this elected treatment to ensure no pre-existing issues interfere with your results.
For instance, even if you brush and floss consistently at home, cavities can form in hard-to-see spaces like between teeth or behind molars. Applying bleaching agents over areas of tooth decay can cause an incredibly painful reaction, so it should be avoided.
Consideration #3: Avoid Tooth Sensitivity
If you’re trying to save a few dollars after completing your orthodontic treatment, you might be tempted to lighten your smile with commercially available teeth whiteners. Over-the-counter options may cost less but typically include diluted bleaching agents that don’t consistently deliver results. Furthermore, they usually contain one-size-fits-all trays or pre-doctored strips that lead to errors in the application. Many patients have accidentally overapplied or misused these products, which can lead to tooth sensitivity.
Meanwhile, your orthodontist has access to professional-grade supplies like Zoom! teeth whitening designed to mitigate potential adverse effects to help you achieve your ideal shade safely.
If you’re eager to remove discoloration after braces, contacting your orthodontist is the best way to get started!
Meet the Author
Dr. Stan Drabik has 20+ years of experience helping people of all ages improve their dental condition by straightening their smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at SUNY at Buffalo school of Dental Medicine and completed his orthodontic certificate at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Today, he’s a member of the American Dental Association and other prestigious organizations, so you know your grin is in good hands. He’s happy to help enhance your appearance by whitening your teeth after completing orthodontics. You can request an appointment on the website or call the Webster office at (585) 872-4660.