How to Avoid Yellow Teeth Due to Braces
If you have to wear braces to align your teeth, you may notice that you are left with two-toned teeth once they are removed. Since it is difficult to clean around and underneath your brackets, you will find that when the brackets are removed, you will have teeth that are a mix of yellow and white. Luckily, there are some ways to rectify this problem.
Use a High-Quality Toothbrush
Those that have braces should make sure to use a good quality toothbrush such as a soft-bristle, interdental, or electric toothbrush that can maneuver around your brackets to effectively clean your teeth. Make sure you are brushing your teeth and brackets thoroughly, twice a day.
Make sure to avoid using a low-quality or hard-bristle toothbrush because it can harm your brackets or mess up the alignment of your teeth, increasing your risk of unsuccessful orthodontic treatment.
Ask your dentist in Flagstaff for their toothbrush recommendations and see if they can also provide you with brushing techniques.
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
When you have braces, it is important that you use the right toothpaste on your teeth. This toothpaste should be non-abrasive and shouldn’t contain any whitening ingredients.
Opt for fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste contains natural minerals that enhance the strength of your tooth enamel and prevent your teeth from getting cavities. Fluoride toothpaste is also helpful in keeping your mouth free from gum disease and bacteria.
Try a Water Flosser
You can try to use a Waterpik or water flosser to clean your teeth without harming your braces. Water flossers can get to the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and effectively remove food particles and plaque.
Use a Fluoride Mouthwash
When you have braces on, your teeth are susceptible to cavities because food and other bacteria can easily get stuck underneath the brackets or between teeth. One way to lower this risk is to see if your dental clinic near you offers fluoride mouthwash. If you get a fluoride mouthwash from somewhere other than your dentist, make sure to use a non-alcoholic brand; otherwise, you may suffer from dry mouth, which can cause a plethora of other dental issues.
Use Orthodontic Flossers
You may be used to using regular dental floss, but orthodontic flossers and floss threaders are the better options for cleaning teeth if you have braces.
To use an orthodontic flosser, use the flosser along each side of your teeth. Make sure to also floss your molars, especially at the back of your mouth, where it is difficult for your toothbrush to reach.
Try Teeth Whitening
While all the above techniques will help reduce the chances of two-toned, yellow teeth after getting your braces off, you may still find that you have some discoloration. If this is the case, speak to our team at Flagstaff Smiles about options for teeth whitening near you.
Typically, it is recommended that you wait about six months after getting your braces removed to get teeth whitening in Flagstaff because teeth are often sensitive after getting braces removed. Once your teeth are strong enough, however, teeth whitening is an excellent way to perfect your smile.
Braces are an excellent and necessary treatment for patients with misaligned teeth. Even though braces can cause some discoloration, following the tips in this article and speaking to your dentist at Flagstaff Smiles will help you minimize this discoloration. If you have any other questions or concerns about discoloration, please feel free to contact us. Our team of dedicated dental professionals is happy to help.