Thousands of people require braces every year in Australia and it’s not just teens that are getting them. At the moment there are approximately 300,000 people with braces and a quarter of those are people who are aged 19 and over.
Braces are appealing to those who want to improve their smile but to also improve the function that crooked teeth may affect. Treatment varies for person to person and the timeframe can range anywhere from 6 to 24 months depending on the severity and complexity of the case.
Spending an extended amount of time with something that is covering majority of your teeth can prove some issues if you don’t clean your teeth thoroughly numerous times a day. It can lead to discolouration, decay and stains from not only food and drinks but also the braces themselves.
If you are looking to whiten your teeth while having braces, make sure you educate yourself on if it is possible with the type of braces you are being treated with as whitening options will vary. If you choose to whiten your teeth with the incorrect method, this may lead to worsened stains and discolouration when it’s time to remove your braces.
If you have lingual braces and clear removable aligners, it is safe for you to use whitening strips, whitening trays, whitening toothpastes and mouthwash, however if you have traditional metal braces using whitening toothpaste and mouthwash are your best and only options to use during treatment as using whitening strips and whitening trays are not recommended as they will cause uneven tones on your teeth which will look unappealing once your braces have been removed.
Even though using products isn’t recommended while having braces that doesn’t mean you can’t get rid of yellow stains and discolouration. Get a good toothbrush, whether it is electric or manual there are some great options to choose from that will give you teeth a thorough clean when used correctly.
Floss, floss, floss! Food getting stuck in your braces is an unavoidable thing to happen and occasionally food will get stuck in places you won’t even notice. Flossing will help with giving your teeth a thorough clean and ensuring all food and plaque is removed so no new yellow stains appear in the meantime.
As you can see, there are numerous ways to get rid of yellow stains and also prevent new ones from forming while you are having your teeth straightened and once your treatment is complete you can buy teeth whitening strips that will enhance and whiten your newly transformed smile within days.