Can you whiten your teeth with braces
Taking proper care of your teeth when you’re wearing braces is tough. And you can be as diligent as an oral hygienist while they’re on, but sometimes, either based on our diet or other habits, our teeth yellow. And you may want to correct it! Can you whiten your teeth with braces? Yes. The real question you need to ask is “Should you whiten your teeth with braces?” And the answer depends on the type of braces you have. Here’s what we mean.
You shouldn’t whiten your teeth with metal bracket braces on the front:
When you have your teeth professionally whitened, you’re not going to affect the area that is directly covered by the braces. After all, they’re stuck to your teeth! Even though they’ll look better in the short term, when the braces come off, you’ll have spots of uneven color where the braces were attached. And the only way to correct this is to have your teeth whitened again. Depending on the severity of the staining, you still may not be able to get the two colors to match – resulting in uneven color. Having your teeth whitened isn’t cheap either – best to wait until the braces come off.
You can whiten your teeth if the brackets are on the back, or you use Invisalign:
If the brackets reside on the backsides of your teeth, getting your teeth whitened is fine, as the backs of your teeth don’t need to be bleached anyway. Invisalign braces can easily be removed, so having your teeth whitened is not a problem. There’s nothing that can get in the way or be potentially damaged since they are removed entirely.
Methods of teeth whitening:
Additionally, you need to take care not to damage the braces in the whitening process. Ask your dentist what method you should use, because they’ll be able to tell you what options are safest for your braces. There are several methods of tooth whitening:
- In-office bleaching involves a bleaching agent being put on the teeth, and exposure to a special light that will accelerate the effect.
- At-home bleaching involves strips or trays that are placed on the teeth. If you have metal brackets, you’ll need custom trays for the bleach that allows for the extra room the braces take up.
- Whitening toothpaste is the simplest and safest method of tooth whitening for all types of braces.
Keep in mind that your gums, teeth and jaws may be more sensitive, or more prone to irritation while you’re wearing braces. Ask your dentist what their recommendation is for whitening your teeth. If you have more questions, call Dr. Chauvin’s office!
