Dealing with a ceramic braces stain is something many braces patients want to avoid. They are often unsightly and can seem very difficult to remove by yourself. Fortunately, there is a wide range of options available that can help you remove them safely and effectively. Our article is going to list some of these methods and will also cover some of the main food and beverage choices you should avoid to prevent stains from returning.
Do Ceramic Braces Stain?
Before we move onto the subject of removing stains after wearing ceramic braces, it’s important to make a clear distinction on the staining that occurs while wearing them. First and foremost, ceramic braces themselves are not responsible for the staining that typically occurs while wearing them.
Over time, a variety of foods and beverages can cause staining on the surface of your teeth. Opting for a whitening toothpaste may seem like the best solution. However, this is one of the worst things you can do while wearing braces of any kind.
The reason for this is that the brackets on each tooth prevent the whitening toothpaste from reaching the tooth’s surface. Once these brackets are removed, you will be left with an area that is a completely different shade than the rest of the tooth’s surface area.
Once your braces are removed, you may also notice white marks that appear as surface stains as well. This is usually the result of demineralization on areas of your teeth that weren’t readily exposed to fluoride for extended periods of time.
Ultimately, it’s not the ceramic braces themselves that cause the condition. Instead, it’s just your daily food and beverage choices that lead to the staining. This is why you should always do your best to follow your orthodontist’s instructions and avoid certain food and drink items during your treatment plan.
If you do notice that you are left with a ceramic braces stain, there is a wide range of options available that can help fix it. The fix that works best for you will vary based on the type of stain that you have on your teeth. Each of those options will be discussed in greater detail in the following section.
Ceramic Braces Stain Removal: Tips and Tricks
1. Proper Brushing Habits & The Right Toothpaste
Learning how to keep ceramic braces clean is one of the most important steps to take. If you still have ceramic braces, opt for a non-whitening toothpaste type. Try to select brands that feature the ADA seal of approval.
These brands will typically contain fluoride in them and play a big role in reducing tooth decay as well. When brushing, always remember to apply as little pressure as possible. The reason for this is that you should allow the bristles to do the work for you. The goal is to have the bristles fit in the spaces between your teeth and lightly scrub away surface debris. This also has the added benefit of improving the average lifespan of your toothbrush bristles as well.
If your braces have already been removed and you are still concerned about surface staining, you may be able to opt for a whitening toothpaste instead. Ask your dentist for any recommendations that they may have. Some of the most popular whitening ingredients to look for in these types of toothpaste include hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
2. Don’t Forget the Floss
No dental care routine is complete without flossing. While wearing ceramic braces, flossing can sometimes feel much more difficult. Fortunately, there are many products that are designed to help you reach those difficult areas.
A popular brand that you may want to consider is called Platypus. They feature soft bristles and an ergonomically designed handle that is comfortable to use. The bristles are designed to fit under the delicate wires and in between brackets.
Plackers makes a product called Orthopick that is designed specifically for braces users as well. It has a special design that is made to fit comfortably under the archwire of most braces. When in doubt, ask your dentist for any recommendations that they may have as well. In addition, they can help instruct you on good flossing habits as well.
3. Whitening Strips
One of the biggest complaints people have is white stains that are left where the brackets used to be. This is a fairly common occurrence for users who have just had their braces removed.
As mentioned previously, this occurs as the result of demineralization. In addition to using proper brushing and flossing habits, using whitening strips can help lighten the rest of your tooth’s surface to match the area where your brackets used to be.
While this doesn’t really remove the stain, it does make it far less noticeable over time. In addition, it has the added benefit of improving your smile quality as well. Just remember to follow the manufacturer instructions to the letter and to not use the strips more often than is recommended by the manufacturer or your dentist.
For particularly severe cases, you may want to opt for a whitening product that your dentist recommends. The whitening strips that they can provide you with are much more potent than the versions you can buy over the counter yourself.
4. Rinse Regularly
The best practice you can follow is to brush your teeth after each and every meal. However, most dentists do understand that this isn’t really a viable solution when eating with friends at a public venue or going out on a Friday night.
Fortunately, you can still help reduce surface staining build up by rinsing your mouth out after eating and drinking. Simply swish water throughout your mouth and spit it out. This can help dislodge loose food particles.
If you still can’t get away to use the restroom for a quick mouth rinse, you can accomplish a similar result by taking a few drinks of water after each meal. As you drink, allow the water to slide over your teeth before swallowing as usual. This is a particularly useful strategy when drinking items like red wine, and it has the added benefit of keeping you hydrated.
Foods to Avoid With Ceramic Braces
While wearing ceramic braces, there are many types of foods that you should avoid to prevent damage to the delicate structure of the braces. However, the purpose of this section is to focus on the foods that cause the most amount of staining.
Two of the most common drinks you should avoid from the beginning are coffee and tea. Both of these are major culprits of surface staining. If you still can’t bear starting your morning without your cup of coffee, always remember to wash it down with a cup of water and to rinse whenever possible.
Certain alcoholic beverages can also cause a great deal of surface staining as well. Red wine is one of the biggest ones to avoid. Sangria is another wine type that is notorious for leaving behind stains as well. If you do have to opt for alcoholic beverages, consider clear options like vodka and tonic.
Both soy and red sauces can also cause tooth staining as well. In addition, certain fruits like blueberries are notorious for leaving behind a residue. Fortunately, proper brushing and flossing can help reduce the surface staining these types of foods leave behind.
Conclusion
If you’ve been left with a ceramic braces stain, just know that there are viable options available for fixing it quickly and easily. Many of these options are available over the counter and can be used from the comfort of your own home. However, prevention is still the best strategy and is the one your orthodontist is likely to recommend the most. If you have any ceramic braces stain removal tips you would like to share, feel free to post them in the comments area.
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