Ceramic braces turning teeth yellow?

[Denise]

So maybe it's because the ceramic brackets are whiter than my actual teeth, but I swear it's like my teeth are turning yellower since I got my braces. I don't drink soda (ok once every two weeks, maybe), I don't drink tea or coffee (ever). I brush for at least two minutes after every meal and so far the brackets aren't the least bit stained. You would think if it's the food I'm eating turning them yellow, wouldn't the brackets be staining too?

Also, are there any safe to use at-home teeth whitening systems?

Thanks everyone

[newsboysgrl777]

Denise,

I don't really want to answer this in too much detail because I don't know for sure I'd be answering correctly. Hopefully Zoso or Sunny will see this and provide some insight. However, there are a few things I do know...

1) I've been told and seen many posts that you should not whiten your teeth while in braces. This is because you'll end up whitening only what's exposed, and then what is beneath the brackets will be a different color (or hue, I guess you'd call it), and you'd never be able to get those to match the other parts (the exposed parts)..so you'd constantly have little squares on your teeth.

2) I'm thinking that teeth may stain a bit faster than ceramic (and, from all the posts I've read, it seems that ceramic does NOT stain) so, it would make sense that you may be seeing your teeth staining, but not your brackets. However, this could also be excess glue or something on the tooth that wasn't visible previously, but is now stained with food, etc. What I noticed was that it looked like my teeth got more yellow behind the little bracket part where they put rubber bands (it's like a little 'hook' on the third teeth over from center). However, when I started brushing behind that with an interproximal toothbrush, it virtually disappeared. Another thing I've done is use that same toothbrush under the archwire and I'll brush the teeth there, then rub it back and forth (as opposed to up and down) against the wire to clean that and get anything that might be built up out of there (like plaque or whatever). The last bit of advice I can give is to rinse with a fluoride mouthwash (like ACT or its generic equivalent), as this will help keep teeth clean, but will also aid in the protection of the enamel on the teeth. It may do other things also, but I don't know what those things are.

Good luck.

[Sunny]

Newsboysgrl I think you've answered the questions well!

Ceramic doesn't stain, but the ligs around the brackets do. If they're clear or tooth coloured, they usually stain a pale cream to yellow shade, which can affect they way your teeth look. Mostly this affect is really only noticed by the wearer, or the few people who look closely at their teeth.

So not use any professional whitening system while you have brackets on your teeth, coz the area under the bracket can not be whitened, due to the bonding, and this will result in problems when the brackets come off. It's okay to use toothpaste that says it will help whiten teeth, as this (at best) will only remove the most recent staining.

The colour of your teeth may be affected by the lightening you're checking them in, shadows from the brackets and many things other than staining. Check with your ortho at your next appointment Denise, as this is the best person to tell you what's happening.

Good luck!

[Bunny]

Hi denise...hmmm you know mine went a little yellow...the bands around the brackets, or so I thought! On my first wire change last week...which by the way was not painfull at all and the tenderness is about a 2/10 much less than when the brace was fitted..my ortho said how lovely and clean the ligs were, no staining? He said that the bands may discolour slightly with "age" but that no there wasnt any staining. If anything it could be that I was taking such care of my teeth now that stains on the teeth themselves had been removed making the brackets and their bands appear yellower! So I bet Denise thats it! Gold star for you on your brushing...and me too! xx

[Denise]

It sounds like that is what's happening, is possible mild staining. I've just noticed they are turning a mild yellowish color. I go in for my next appointment on the 23rd. They are taking my springs out (hooray!) and are putting brackets on my VERY crooked laterals and are putting a normal wire through the top now so I'm pretty excited. And I can also see movement in my teeth which is the coolest thing of all. Glad these things are doing their job and aren't just making me miserable and costing me a fortune.