Whitening Your Teeth After Braces – Everything You Need To Know

If you’ve just had your braces removed at Kingstowne Dental Specialists, or you’ll be having them taken off soon, you may be wondering if you should whiten your teeth after orthodontic treatment. In this blog, we’ll discuss the basics of whitening your teeth after braces, and provide you with our recommendations. Let’s get started.

Why Are My Teeth Stained After Braces? Common Causes Of Staining

Your teeth won’t always be pearly-white after your braces are removed. Primarily, this depends on how well you’ve cared for your teeth during the treatment process. Great oral hygiene will help your teeth stay bright. However, even if you take great care of your smile, you may still have stains.

Stains may happen due to the consumption of tea, coffee, juice, wine, and soda that can stain the enamel below your teeth. You can’t really clean the enamel below your brackets very well, so these beverages tend to stain underneath your braces, which can leave you with some spots on your teeth.

White spots are also a common problem. If you don’t brush properly, you may end up with white spots around your brackets. These are caused by enamel demineralization, which happens when acid eats away at the minerals on your teeth. These can be reversed with fluoride treatments and teeth whitening. 

How Can I Whiten My Teeth After My Braces Come Off?

There are a few different ways that you can choose to whiten your teeth after your braces come off. Here’s a quick overview of your top options.

• Whitening toothpaste & mouthwash – Using a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash can help with minor stains, and will also help keep your teeth white. However, this is not the best choice for heavy staining.
  
  
• At-home whitening kits – At-home whitening kits like Crest Whitestrips are relatively effective, and can help whiten your teeth after braces. However, they will not whiten your teeth as quickly or effectively as professional whitening.
  
  
• Professional teeth whitening – If you have serious stains or white spots on your teeth, whitening treatment from a dentist is the best choice. With professional whitening, you’ll be able to quickly reverse years of staining in just a single appointment.
  

Will Teeth Whitening Make My Teeth Hurt? 

We know that braces can be uncomfortable, so you probably want to avoid further tooth pain after you’ve had them removed. The good news is that teeth whitening will not make your teeth hurt. You may experience a bit of tooth sensitivity, but this should wear off within a few days, leaving you with a beautiful, bright, and even smile.

Teeth Whitening Is A Great Option After Your Braces Are Removed 

After your braces are removed by Dr. Robert Marzban at Kingstowne Dental Specialists, we highly recommend teeth whitening if you have any stains or white spots. Our team can refer you to a local cosmetic dentist, or recommend products to use for at-home whitening, and ensure your smile looks its best.

If you have questions about braces and teeth whitening, feel free to give us a call at (703) 493-0622 or contact us online for more information. 

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