Braces Stains

[Rarara99]

Hey everybody,

I'm new here, and my apologies if I have posted this topic in the wrong category.

I joined the forums because I am concerned about my teeth. I have had braces for over a year now, and I have less than a year left before I get my braces off. I have begun to notice spotted brown stains around my braces, which have probably been caused because of my lack of diligence of flossing regularly. I have, however, been brushing and using mouthwash everyday. I am extremely worried about my teeth and whether the stains are removable. I have begun to floss regularly, but I know that this will only prevent it from becoming worse.

Please, I ask that you do not tell me what has caused this problem, so please don't tell me that I have not been flossing enough or that I have had bad dental hygiene. I already know this. Rather, please tell me whether it is fixable and the possible solutions.

Thanks,
-Rara

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome to this forum Rara!

Firstly flossing is for the benefit of your gums and does also help keep the sides of your teeth clean, but there is no reason for it to impact on the area around your brackets. It's great this has got you motivated to look after your gums better, but I doubt it will affect the stained areas.

I can't tell you what has caused the problem ... so you don't need to be concerned about that. What you need to do is find out from your ortho or dentist what has caused the problem, so that it can then be put right. Hopefully it's connected to the bonding material becoming discoloured, or something simple like that, so that it will be easily sorted.

Here's to you getting this sorted and your treatment going well!

[Zoso]

Sunny is correct to the extent that if the issue is just that there is excess bonding material around the brackets and that has becomes stained, this issue would easily be dealt with when the braces are removed, and the bonding is polished away.

However, you say that you have not been especially diligent with your teeth cleaning routine. So I wonder if what is going on could potentially be due to plaque accumulating around the feet of the brackets - the part of the bracket that is attached to the tooth. If this is so, then you might be seeing decalcification (weakening of the enamel) that is progressing to decay. It is very important to clean carefully around the foot of each bracket - a small proxy brush (like the one pictured under the Brushing and Flossing section of this page) is especially useful for this. And it is even more important t o make sure to clean carefully like this if there is any excess bonding around the brackets, since if this has an uneven edge at all, it can be a terrible plaque trap.

I would suggest that you have your orthodontist evaluate this staining, or even better that you head in to see your general dentist for a thorough cleaning and check-up, just to be sure.

[Rarara99]

Hey guys,

First off I'd just like to thank you for the quick response

Zoso from what you've described I think that may be my problem.

(So I wonder if what is going on could potentially be due to plaque accumulating around the feet of the brackets - the part of the bracket that is attached to the tooth. If this is so, then you might be seeing decalcification (weakening of the enamel) that is progressing to decay. It is very important to clean carefully around the foot of each bracket - a small proxy brush)

Can this be undone? Or will I have to live with the decay on my teeth?

Thanks again,
-Rara

EDIT: Wow, I totally forgot about the proxy brush, and had to dig out the one my orthodontist gave me in the beginning of my treatment. I opened it today. I tried using it, and some of the brown color scratched off -- can I attempt to scratch the rest off or would it damage my teeth and Ishould wait for a professional to do it?

[Sunny]

Rara, it's great that you've had some success with the poxy/interdental brush, hopefully this means that any damage to your teeth will be minimal.

I think you should still visit your dentist or hygienist to have a professional cleaning. Generally orthodontic patients are advised to have at least a six monthly professional cleaning of their teeth, to help prevent problems like this occuring. With brackets and archwires, it can be a bit more challenging to keep your oral hygiene A1, but it can be done.

Now sounds like a great time for you to have your teeth professionally cleaned and then you can be sure your teeth will look great when your treatment is over!

Good luck!

[Zoso]

I agree with Sunny. Do head in for a cleaning and checkup, but with any luck it sounds like this may just be some superficial staining that's accumlated in those harder to brush places! Fingers crossed, eh?