Tips for an adult with brand new white dental braces

March 16, 2010 7:30 AM

How can I keep my new white dental braces from discoloring?

Hi. I just returned from the dentist with some braces on my top teeth. I'm 30 years-old and it turns out that my baby canine teeth never descended so these braces will help ease them down.
Anyway, I just got them put on this morning, and I selected the white ones for the front teeth. Since they will be on for a year, I wonder if anyone has experience with these and maybe has tips for keeping them white (should I avoid coffee?).

My dentist told me that I shouldn't worry about it, but I really have trouble believing that they won't discolor in a few months... and the only thing worse than metal braces would be discolored yellowish ones.

Any tips are appreciated!
Thanks -

posted by mateuslee to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

The porcelain is the same as your teeth pretty much, a whitening toothpaste will be fine (as per previous experience). The rubber bits binding the wire to the brackets will discolor though, so avoiding coffee, tea and red wine for that is something you can do. Or just brush your teeth when you're done.
posted by lizbunny at 7:43 AM on March 16, 2010

Best answer: Use a straw. Drink what you want.
posted by crankylex at 7:44 AM on March 16, 2010

I had the porcelain braces when I was in middle school. Whitening toothpaste is fine and will counteract anything like staining on the actual appliance. The bands, however, can discolor, so brush or just cut down on coffee, soda, etc. I don't remember that mine ever got particularly bad, but I didn't have a 3-cup-of-coffee a day habit then.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:46 AM on March 16, 2010

Are they white braces or clear braces? Long ago in a land far, far away I had clear braces, and from what I remember the brackets themselves never actually discolored. The clear rubberbands that were used to hold the wire to the brackets discolored terribly -- avoiding foods with any color or foods altogether would ensure they stayed pristine. After the first couple of months, the rubberbands were replaced with thin wire ties, and I never had any more problems with discoloration though the braces were much more visible.
posted by defreckled at 7:47 AM on March 16, 2010

Response by poster: I somehow don't have this rubber thing (happily!)... They are white (I think porcelain) braces. Thanks for the tips - specifically wrt the straw and the whitening toothpaste!
posted by mateuslee at 7:55 AM on March 16, 2010

How is the wire attached to the brace themselves? Is there a tiny rubber band that goes around each base and secures the wire? That's the one that discolors. If you don't have that, then good.
posted by 26.2 at 8:28 AM on March 16, 2010

Response by poster: Yes, indeed - I just noticed. There is a small white rubber band wrapped around each brace. Damn. This will probably discolor before anything else...
posted by mateuslee at 8:36 AM on March 16, 2010

Best answer: Those rubber bands are replaced at almost every orthodontist visit. They'll only have a few weeks to discolor.

The best thing is to brush your teeth after you've had something that can discolor them. Even a quick swish and spit with water after coffee, wine, tea an soda will really help a lot. Having a few minutes of contact with coffee isn't a problem, but letting that stuff sit is going to discolor the bands. You don't want to swish with peroxide or something that will beach your teeth since that will be a problem when your braces are removed.
posted by 26.2 at 8:51 AM on March 16, 2010

Weirdly, I was just reading about this online. You have to trade in a little bit of the invisibility factor, but one dentist suggested selecting colored rubber bands. This avoids the dirty-teeth-look and instead just makes it look like you've chosen to have colored bands.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:57 AM on March 16, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks PhoBWanKenobi, since 26.2 says they switch the bands at each visit, I'll see how these ones look after a month and then make a decision about getting a colored set instead.
posted by mateuslee at 9:02 AM on March 16, 2010

When I had braces the colored elastics were in fashion, but I was too mortified to get them and chose clear elastics instead. I never noticed any discoloration with those. White may indeed stain. Also, the straw suggestion is great if you like coffee/tea/soda.

Get yourself a few huge bottles of OTC painkillers; you're gonna need 'em if you're having adult teeth pulled down from your gums. Ooh, my head aches for you already!
posted by Fui Non Sum at 11:04 AM on March 16, 2010

Best answer: I have clear (ceramic) braces, with clear ligatures (the rubber band thingies). The brackets themselves don't stain, but the ligs sure do. I don't drink much coffee, tea, or red wine, but mine always look a little grody by the end of the month. The one thing that seemed to stain the bands instantly was curry.

Also, the best online resource for adults with braces is Archwired and their message boards.
posted by cosmic osmo at 12:47 PM on March 16, 2010