What happens if you use whitening toothpaste with braces?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blogpost will answer the question What happens if you use whitening toothpaste with braces? And will include the following topics:
Will Braces Stain Your Teeth?
How to Whiten Teeth With Braces
When can you use whitening toothpaste with braces?
How to use whitening toothpaste with braces?
Which whitening options are safe to use while wearing braces?
How to Keep Your Teeth White with Braces?
Can I schedule an in-office dental whitening treatment with braces?
How can you prevent tooth discoloration while wearing braces?
What happens if you use whitening toothpaste with braces?
If you have braces, you may find that whitening toothpaste is the finest option. Surface stains are removed without the use of bleach. They also contain fluoride, which strengthens enamel. Because whitening toothpaste does not affect the colour of your teeth, you won’t be surprised when it’s time to remove your braces.
Will Braces Stain Your Teeth?
Traditional braces’ brackets and wires should not ruin your teeth’s appearance on their own. However, just because you have braces doesn’t guarantee your teeth won’t discolour.
Whether you have braces or not, what you eat and drink, as well as how you care for your teeth, can cause discoloration. To avoid stains and other undesirable dental disorders, orthodontic patients must pay careful attention to their healthy mouth routine. Brushing and flossing should be done on a regular basis.
Sugary meals and drinks should be avoided in addition to brushing and flossing. Plaque buildup around your brackets and lasting discoloration might result from them. If you must consume a sugary dessert, go for something that isn’t sticky. Sticky candies (such as hard candies, taffy, or gummies) can get stuck between brackets, making dental care difficult.
After consuming sweet meals, brush right away. Foods and drinks that are known to discolour teeth are the same. Stains can be left behind by red wine, dark juices, coffee, and tea. While you may not notice the stains throughout your orthodontic treatment, they will become apparent once your braces are removed.
How to Whiten Teeth With Braces
There are a variety of tooth whitening and bleaching treatments available. Some specialise on eliminating surface stains and deposits, while others lighten and whiten your tooth enamel.
Whitening toothpastes are meant to brighten your smile by removing surface stains.
Whitening toothpastes are safe to use with braces, and if you’re concerned about some minor staining and yellowing of your teeth, they’re probably the best way to whiten your teeth during orthodontic treatment because they’re unlikely to cause uneven coloration when your brackets are removed, and you shouldn’t experience increased sensitivity or discomfort.
It’s time to see your dentist for some extra aid if you require a more extreme whitening procedure.
At-home whitening gels come in pens and trays, but because those trays aren’t meant to accommodate brackets, you’ll need specific trays from your dentist to ensure thorough coverage and avoid hurting your braces.
Because using these whitening trays with braces might create discomfort and sensitivity, it’s definitely better to wait if your mouth is already a bit irritated.
In-office procedures to whiten your enamel may be available from your dentist. If you choose with this option, you’ll either need to arrange a follow-up appointment to whiten the areas where your brackets were, or you’ll have to wait until your braces are removed to brighten your smile.
When using a whitening gel on your teeth while wearing braces, always see your dentist or orthodontist first, since some products might harm your brackets.
In most circumstances, keeping up with cleanliness and oral care is your greatest option for whitening teeth with braces. To maintain your smile as dazzling as possible, remember to clean around brackets, beneath wires, and between teeth. After your brackets are removed, use a whitening toothpaste and, if needed, a whitening treatment.
When can you use whitening toothpaste with braces?
The issue with using whitening solutions with braces is that they affect the colour of the exposed region of the teeth, which is hidden by the braces. When the braces are removed, the teeth become uneven in colour, which is difficult to repair subsequently.
When you use powerful teeth whitening treatments like gel or strips, this happens. They eliminate intrinsic stains while also altering the structure.
However, whitening toothpaste is less intrusive and hence safer to use with braces. It merely eliminates stains from the tooth’s outer surface and has little effect on the tooth’s structure.
Whitening toothpaste will offer you an excellent effect in 6 weeks if you use it consistently and maintain proper dental hygiene. It will not provide you with a rapid result. As a result, you must be patient.
How to use whitening toothpaste with braces?
You must use it at least twice a day, much as other types of toothpaste. Allow 2 minutes to completely clean your teeth.
However, you should wash your teeth carefully using soft bristle brushes. Because of the abrasives in this toothpaste, using a hard bristle brush or brushing vigorously with it harms the surface of your teeth.
If you keep your mouth clean, the paste will offer you the best results. It can erase stains caused by smoking or drinking red wine or coffee, but it won’t work well if you keep doing so. As a result, try to stay away from them.
Tobacco use, such as smoking and chewing, discolour teeth on the deeper surface. Whitening toothpaste will not assist you if you do not stop smoking.
You must also wash your teeth on a regular basis. Brush your teeth before going to bed and again after breakfast.
Always use the whitening toothpaste that the American Dental Association recommends. The ADA seal can be found on approved toothpaste.
Which whitening options are safe to use while wearing braces?
Not only may food and drinks discolour your teeth over time, but braces can as well.
Brushing alone may not be enough to brighten your smile if you have stains on your teeth. In this instance, a whitening agent may be required. The good news is that you don’t need to take your braces off to obtain a brighter smile. After braces, however, it is common practice to whiten teeth.
When teeth are whitened while wearing braces, it might be difficult for the whitening agent to reach regions where brackets cover the surface of the teeth and where teeth are moving and overlapping, resulting in uneven colours.
Whitening strips
Whitening strips are a safe, affordable, and effective at-home whitening treatment. A bleaching agent or peroxide is present in the strips. They’re made to remove stains from your teeth’s surface.
How they work:
A whitening strip is usually applied to your teeth once or twice a day for up to 45 minutes.
Potential side effects:
In some people, the bleaching chemical in whitening strips might cause gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity.
Whitening trays
Another method for teeth whitening is to use a bleaching gel and a custom-made whitening tray that is fitted to your teeth.
How it works:
Fill the tray with a small amount of whitening gel, then place it in your mouth for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Treatments should be repeated every day until you get the desired effects, which usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Potential side effects:
You may experience gum or tooth sensitivity. If you don’t experience irritation or sensitivity, you can wear the tray for a longer period, up to 2 hours per session.
Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash
Although you can’t use whitening strips or trays with traditional metal braces, a whiter smile may be achieved with a variety of routine dental care items.
Abrasive particles, such as silica, are commonly used in whitening toothpastes to scour away surface stains on your teeth. Some may also include chemicals that aid in the removal of stains. Furthermore, whitening mouthwash not only freshens breath but also helps to prevent future stains.
How to use:
Use a whitening toothpaste two to three times a day and a whitening mouthwash at least once a day for the best results.
Potential side effects:
Because some of these toothpastes are free of bleach, they are less prone to induce tooth sensitivity or gum inflammation. Some toothpastes, on the other hand, are abrasive and can erode away tooth enamel, causing discomfort.
Electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush may help whiten your teeth and remove surface stains. Electric toothbrushes do not contain any chemical agents that might alter the colour of your teeth. However, they are more effective than a standard toothbrush in removing surface stains. This might make it look as if your teeth are whiter.
How to use:
Brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush in the same way you would with a regular toothbrush. For braces, several electric toothbrushes contain orthodontic toothbrush heads. You may find them on the internet.
Potential side effects:
If you have sensitive gums or teeth, the rapid automatic bristle
How to Keep Your Teeth White with Braces
It’s not simple to keep your teeth white when wearing braces! Here are a few tips for keeping your teeth white even if you’re wearing braces!
Brushing
Plaque is removed by brushing, and using a whitening toothpaste will help maintain your sparkling whites even brighter. Brush your teeth after each meal to avoid food becoming stuck between your braces.
Flossing
Brushing goes hand in hand with this. Flossing takes only a few minutes every day, morning and night, and it helps to eliminate plaque from between teeth. Even that plaque causes discoloration and, in the worst-case scenario, death (tooth decay). Flossing with Super floss is easier for persons who wear braces or other dental equipment. It consists of three parts: a threader with a stiffened end (for flossing between wires), soft spongy floss (for cleaning around equipment), and standard floss (for removing plaque normally between your teeth).
Use a Straw
The less liquid that touches the teeth, the better. Drinking with a straw, say in the case of ice coffee, can limit the possibility of staining, by keeping the coffee off your smile.
Sip Water Between Cups of Coffee
Drinking water in between sips of coffee or tea can help to wash away the staining possibilities, and you should be drinking more water anyway.
Sugar should be avoided as much as possible. Sugar accelerates the formation of plaque, which is the last thing you want if you wear braces.
Teeth whitening products should be avoided. Do not use whitening treatments such as whitening toothpaste or mouthwash while wearing braces. Because the whitening chemical only works on the areas it comes into contact with, you should wait until your braces are removed before whitening your teeth. Otherwise, the colour of your teeth will be uneven.
Can I schedule an in-office dental whitening treatment with braces?
To modify the colour of your teeth, dentists utilise a stronger bleaching solution as well as a specific UV light. Despite the fact that these dental procedures are more expensive than over-the-counter whitening alternatives, the outcomes are quite effective.
To arrange in-office whitening, you’ll normally have to wait until you’ve taken out your regular braces. If you have lingual braces or removable braces, however, you can arrange an in-office treatment at any time.
How can you prevent tooth discoloration while wearing braces?
Some stains can be avoided by practising good dental hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis, ideally after each meal, to avoid discolouration.
Brush for as least 2 minutes, and floss between your teeth and below the wires of your braces to remove any food lodged between them.
Limit staining drinks and meals because you’re at risk for teeth discolouration. You should also avoid meals that are heavy in sugar or acid, as these might harm your teeth. Also, refrain from using tobacco products, which can discolour your teeth and cause gum disease.
Maintain regular dental cleaning sessions at least twice a year, and inquire about fluoride treatments before and during braces with your orthodontist. This can help prevent discolouration.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can you use whitening toothpaste with braces on?
Yes, you can use whitening toothpaste with braces on.
Are braces stains permanent?
No, braces stains are not permanent.
How can I prevent my teeth from turning yellow with braces?
You can prevent your teeth from turning yellow with braces by following simple methods such as brushing and flossing regularly, using a straw while drinking carbonated or caffeinated drinks, maintaining good oral hygiene etc.
How can I whiten my teeth with braces?
You can whiten teeth with braces by various methods such as whitening strips, whitening trays, maintaining good oral hygiene etc.
Do braces stains go away?
Yes, braces stains go away eventually.
Other FAQs about Teeth braces that you may be interested in.
How Long Does It Take For Your Teeth To Get Straight With Braces?
What do braces feel like the first day?