Braces are the tried-and-true way of straightening smiles because they can handle everything from mild cases to more severe misalignments. Whatever the issue, your teeth will be arranged evenly by the time your treatment is complete. Then, once your orthodontics are removed, it’s only natural to want to show off your newly perfected grin.
However, you might notice some displeasing discoloration after months or years of having metal brackets bonded to your teeth. This can make you self-conscious about your dental condition, dampening your enthusiasm to display the results. Continue reading to learn more about why this happens and how your dentist can address it with various cosmetic services!
How Do Braces Discolor My Teeth?
Even if you consistently brushed and flossed twice daily throughout your orthodontic timeline, you could still end up with stains. This is because plaque combines with sugars from foods you eat to create acids that leach minerals from your teeth. Because your braces cover some of the surface areas, those spots might look lighter than the rest of your enamel once they’re taken off.
How Can I Address Discoloration After Braces?
Over time, your saliva counteracts acid damage, which can eventually even out your mismatched teeth, but that’s not guaranteed. Furthermore, many patients don’t want to wait to present their new smile.
Thankfully, there are several ways your dentist can enhance your appearance, including:
Teeth Whitening
Although over-the-counter products are available, they often contain abrasive ingredients that cause discomfort. In addition, they have one-size-fits-all application trays that don’t always give the results you’re hoping for.
Meanwhile, your dentist can provide a take-home kit with custom-fitted trays and professional-grade gels that minimize potential sensitivity. In as little as two weeks, your teeth could be up to 8 shades brighter and more evenly toned.
Veneers
Those with overly stubborn stains that don’t respond to whitening might benefit from veneers. These thin, porcelain shells are customized to match the shade of your teeth and then bonded over the front surface to mask imperfections. They often hide chips, cracks, blotches, small gaps, or slightly crooked teeth.
However, for these prosthetics to fit correctly without appearing overly bulky, your dentist must remove a thin layer of enamel. This doesn’t grow back, which means your grin is irreversibly changed. You’ll need to have veneers in place to offer an additional layer of protection, but they can last up to 15+ years, so that’s usually not an issue.
Dental Bonding
This procedure can perfect your smile without altering your enamel. Instead, your dentist applies a small amount of putty-like composite resin to your teeth. Then, they mold it into the perfect shape and harden it with a curing light. It can mask the same concerns as veneers without first thinning your teeth.
Schedule a cosmetic consultation with your dentist today, and soon, you’ll have the perfect smile you’ve always wanted.
About the Author
Dr. Michael C. Byars offers a full array of services to help families improve their oral health conveniently under one roof. He earned his undergraduate degree from the William Jewell College in Liberty and then achieved his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Missouri. Now, he combines a family-friendly environment with state-of-the-art equipment to increase patient comfort while creating more accurate treatment results. If you’re interested in whitening your teeth, you can request a consultation on the website or by calling (816) 781-8222.