You get braces to get a beautiful smile. But when you have tooth staining after braces, you can’t get absolute beauty. So, can you whiten your teeth at home naturally after braces?
You can use tooth whitening products such as whitening toothpaste, strips, or gels to whiten your teeth at home after braces. But, if there are too many yellow stains, you may need in-office bleaching or whitening treatment after 6 months of braces removal.
Your teeth get yellow or stained because of food habits, poor oral hygiene, and other causes while wearing braces.
Because of that, you may also end up having white spots on your teeth after braces.
Here, you will know about all the methods to whiten teeth after braces come off.
How to whiten teeth after braces at-home and in-office?
First of all, use at-home whitening products such as toothpaste, strips, or gels to whiten your teeth after braces. But, wait for a month before you start using them.
You can’t use tooth whitening products immediately after the removal of braces, as you develop tooth sensitivity.
Moreover, the chemical action between saliva and teeth and maintaining proper oral hygiene can bring back the original color of your teeth.
Even without using them, your teeth can go back to their original look naturally. But, if after a month, you see your teeth don’t look white as they were before the treatment, you can try at-home whitening kits.
But, if you still don’t get the expected outcome, visit a dentist to get bleaching treatment.
Here are the best 3 ways to whiten teeth after braces at home.
1. Using over-the-counter bleaching agents at home
You can also use the following whitening products with bleaching agents with or without your dentist’s instruction, though we always suggest you consult a dentist before using any of these.
Whitening toothpaste
All toothpaste can remove surface stains while whitening toothpaste can also help as a beaching product.
It contains bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide. That’s why it can act on enamel and dentin and remove the intrinsic stain.
As a result, you get whiter teeth. It also contains abrasive and polishing agents to remove surface stains.
This toothpaste also has fluoride that strengthens your enamel and prevents the tooth decaying process.
Use the toothpaste to brush your teeth with it at least twice a day. You can get a significant amount of change in tooth color within 2-4 weeks.
Pros:
It’s the safest at-home tooth whitening product and easy to use.
Cons:
It has a less tooth whitening effect comparing to whitening strips or gels.
You should buy a whitening toothpaste that has the ADA seal.
Whitening rinses
You can also use a whitening mouth rinse. Rinse your mouth for a minute with this solution as it’s instructed.
It gives you brighter and whiter teeth since it contains the whitening agents.
Pros:
Easy to use.
Cons:
Least effective in comparison to other products.
Whitening strips
You can use this easy way to whiten your teeth. Whitening strips are plastic strips that contain a thin layer of hydroperoxide, carbamide peroxide, or other bleaching agents.
Stay away from the strips containing chlorine dioxide, as it can destroy your teeth.
Put it over the teeth like a tape. Remove it after a few minutes as instructed.
The whitening stips not only remove the surface stain but also penetrate your enamel and dentist. As a result, you get whiter teeth from inside.
Be careful while you are using it. Don’t cover your gum with it or it can be harmful.
Besides, don’t keep it on your teeth for a long time. Follow the proper instruction.
Pros:
You can apply it at home easily. It’s cheaper than the in-office procedure.
Cons:
It doesn’t make your teeth that much whiter like in-office procedure. Besides, it may develop tooth sensitivity and create a rough tooth surface.
Using carelessly may cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity.
You should buy a whitening strip with the ADA seal.
2. At-home bleaching from the dentist
Just like the in-office bleaching, your dentist can perform the work in another way, that’s called at-home bleaching.
The procedure is almost the same instead you can get it from your home. You will get a custom-made tray from your dentist.
He or she will prepare it so that it can be fitted perfectly in your mouth. The dentist will instruct you on how to use it at home.
Before applying it, brush, rinse and floss your teeth to remove food debris from your teeth and then wait to make your teeth dry.
Then, put the bleaching solution in the tray and fit it over your teeth.
Wait for a while as your dentist suggested. You have to keep the tray in your mouth for an hour to multiple hours per day or overnight.
It depends on your dentist and the solution used. The bleaching gel or solution usually contains Carbamide Peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
You may need to use the technique every day for a few days to weeks. After the removal of the tray, rinse your mouth and brush your teeth to clean the gel.
Pros:
You can get the treatment at home and feel more comfortable. Though you apply the method at home, you do it under the supervision of your dentist.
So, you don’t have to face any problems while using it and you can get fast treatment if you have any complications. It’s also very safe and easy to perform.
Cons:
You get the result with this method slowly. It may cost you more than using other whitening products without the dentist’s supervision.
3. In-office tooth whitening
You can whiten your teeth from your orthodontist or dentist after the removal of the braces.
This is called the in-office or chairside bleaching method. You can get it done easily in only one office visit.
The dentist takes a measurement of your teeth and mouth and then prepares a tray.
He or she fills this custom made a tray with a bleaching solution and insert it in your mouth to cover the teeth.
After that, the dentist may apply ultralight or heat to speed up the process. You need to wait 20 to 60 minutes with the tray in your mouth.
Before the procedure, your dentist covers your gums with a special type of gel or a rubber shield to protect them from the bleaching agent.
If you have tooth sensitivity before the treatment, you may need several visits to complete the treatment.
Pros:
This method is safer and more effective than any other at-home whitening procedure. It can also make your teeth whiter.
Moreover, you get supervision from your orthodontist. So, you don’t have to be worried about having any complications such as gum irritation or tooth sensitivity.
If you have any gum problems or demineralized enamel, your dentist will take the appropriate step to fix it.
Using strong bleaching agents to make the teeth whiter and brighter is possible in this technique. The end result is also better than others.
Another method which is almost the same as this one is at home belching under the supervision of the dentist.
Cons:
This procedure needs you to visit the dentist’s office and you have to pay for it.
How long after braces can you whiten teeth?
Orthodontists recommended waiting at least 6 months to whiten your teeth after braces come off because teeth feel week and a little sensitive for a while after the treatment. Besides, saliva can reduce the discoloration over time and make your teeth whiter naturally after a few months.
Let’s know further what can be the problem if you try to whiten teeth immediately after braces.
As you develop weak and sensitive teeth after braces, you may experience more sensitivity and irritation, if you want to use those bleaching agents or whitening treatment immediately.
So, give your teeth time to retain their strength. After that, you feel completely normal like before.
Moreover, tooth whitening treatment becomes more effective and you get a better result when you wait for a few months to have the treatment after braces.
You also need to get yourself adjusted to life without braces before it.
However, don’t get frustrated thinking about getting more teeth discoloration, because the saliva of your mouth is going to help you.
You should wait and let the saliva do its work to reduce the discoloration. Saliva contains many chemical substances and has cleansing properties.
After a few months, you will find that your teeth look much whiter and normal than the time of removal of braces.
Then, make your decision whether or not you need to whiten your teeth.
If you see, you have still yellow discoloration or stains, you should consult with your orthodontist about it.
Why shouldn’t you whiten your teeth before braces come off?
Orthodontist always recommends whitening teeth after instead of before, because, it can result in the uneven color of teeth after braces come off. If you get whitening treatment with braces on teeth, it can’t act on the tooth surface that is covered by the braces.
So, it will only work on the surface exposed surface and make them whiter and bridge.
Therefore, when your braces come off, you find that those two areas of teeth have a different shade.
Teeth look patchy and you look bad. So, you need to get whitening treatment again to get rid of this problem.
If you are reading this article in the middle of your braces treatment to fix the crooked teeth, you may curious to know, can you still whiten teeth with braces on?
Get the ways of whitening teeth with braces on teeth from here.
Why do teeth get yellow after braces?
Here are some reason for your teeth becoming less white after braces come off:
1. Poor oral hygiene
Maintaining oral hygiene with braces in the mouth is difficult. Sometimes, you may not clean your teeth completely even after trying so hard.
So, you develop more and more plaque and staining after a few months. Poor oral hygiene may destroy your teeth and stimulate the tooth decaying process.
All of these cause your teeth to become less white and turn yellow over time while wearing braces.
2. Wrong food habit
Another factor is the food habits. You need to eat soft and braces-friendly foods and drinks with braces.
But, taking the wrong foods that are sticky, sugary, or acidic may weaken the enamel gradually. As a result, your teeth lose their white appearance and turn gray or yellow.
3. Using tooth whitening products with braces
A strange reason is using certain types of whitening products while wearing braces.
You get whiter teeth on the surfaces that aren’t covered by the braces.
Therefore, after getting braces off, you get an uneven color of teeth. So, learn which whitening options are the safest to use with braces.
Tips to keep tooth white while wearing braces
If your braces treatment takes a few more months to complete, you can follow these tips to keep teeth white:
1. Maintain proper food habits
Include braces-friendly foods in your diet and stay away from food and drinks that can stain your teeth.
Acidic or sugary foods and beverages should be avoided as they demineralize your teeth and cause acid erosion to the enamel.
Stay away from dark juice, tea, coffee, soda, soft drinks, hard drinks, sports drinks, or any carbonated drinks during orthodontic treatment.
Even if you drink these, wait at least 20 minutes before cleaning your teeth. This helps repair your acid eroded enamel naturally.
Avoid sticky and hard foods that get stuck between braces and teeth easily and they are hard to remove.
These foods damage your braces as well. Take foods that can be cleaned completely and help maintain the white teeth.
2. Oral hygiene
Maintain tooth cleaning routine using the proper method of using brushing and flossing. This helps keep your teeth remain white after braces.
As it’s difficult to clean teeth with braces, regular teeth cleaning is mandatory. Brush at least twice a day.
Take at least minutes to clean teeth and braces thoroughly. Flossing is also very important with braces. Rinse and clean teeth after each meal.
3. Professional Dental cleaning
Set an appointment with your dentist to perform a dental cleaning every 6 months. This help removes plaque and tartar from those surface of your teeth that you can’t reach while cleaning teeth at home.
Learn about more ways to keep tooth white with braces.
How long do whitening effects last after braces?
If people can maintain good food habits and clean their teeth properly, the whitening effect may last for a year or longer duration.
But, the effect isn’t permanent and teeth may start to look less whiten when they exposed to foods and drinks that cause tooth staining.
However, the amount of whiteness may depend on the health of teeth, the method used for tooth whitening, and the degree of tooth staining.
So, it varies from person to person.
In-office vs At-home whitening: Which is the better option for you?
In-office tooth whitening is always a much better option than at-home products.
It can give you a faster result and whiten your teeth more than at-home whitening products.
It also lasts for a longer duration. Most of the tooth whitening products you use at home remove only surface stains.
There are a few products that can remove intrinsic stains. But, they aren’t strong like in-office bleaching agents.
Moreover, those at-home over-the-counter kits only work when you have minor stains.
If you have a sensitive tooth, you must consult with your dentist and get in-office treatment if he or she suggests.
Do orthodontists whiten teeth after braces?
You get tooth whitening treatment from some orthodontist after getting braces off. Some may include it as a part of your orthodontic treatment.
Some may not offer whitening treatment. But, it’s not a big deal, as you can do it from another dentist as well.
However, you should consult with your orthodontist about the treatment, even if he or she doesn’t perform it. You can get the best advice from him or her.
Though you can get in-home whitening treatment, you can always get a better result if you seek a qualified orthodontist or dentist for whitening treatment.
He or she can supervise the condition of your teeth and gums and solve any complications of the treatment fast.
Takeaways
To whiten teeth after braces, you can use at home tooth whitening kits or in-office bleaching treatment.
However, you must wait for a few months after braces come off to whiten your teeth, as teeth remain sensitive and teeth may get back their natural look over time.
Whitening treatment helps give you a beautiful smile with properly aligned teeth.
But, you may not need it if you can maintain proper oral hygiene with braces.
Keep in mind that, prevention is the best option to maintain the natural shade of your teeth.
