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OMG! I can NOT believe that my teeth look so yellow.
What is up with that? I am new to braces.....5wks. Does the cement or something turn yellow? My teeth were fairly white before I got braces. Please tell me that this is normal and that when the braces come off, my teeth will be white again??? Anyone else with this problem?
What type of braces do you have? What colors are your ligs? These two things can make an impact on how your teeth "look". Are you maintaining proper hygene? Plaque and food can really make the teeth look nasty when they aren't being cleaned thoroughly.
What you eat with braces can be important and can stain parts of the "stuff" on your teeth. I dont have ligs, as I have Damon's, but I have read that certain color ligs against the teeth can make your teeth look yellow.
Have you called your ortho? Have you seen your dentist?
I'm due for an adjustment on Saturday, so I've been eating curry with a vengeance! My ligs and wire are now a nice vibrant yellowy green colour
If I give a big cheesy grin, my, those teeth look vile! However, if my lips cover the wirework, hey presto - gleaming white gnashers again!
It's an optical illusion I'd say, but if you regularly sloosh Peroxyl mouthwash around, your teeth will look brighter
FWIW, I noticed very quickly that in the few areas where the cement was not completely covered by the bracket (ceramic in my case), the cement stained badly. I now have a few dark-brown "outlines" on my front teeth (naturally!).
I do feel like my teeth look dingier in general. It may be the light thing, as mentioned above. And I'm sure it doesn't help that I smoke and drink coffee. But whatever it is, I don't care for it.
I've been rinsing out my mouth every other day or so with peroxide (30 seconds). And I've been using my mini proxy brush (? whatever it's called) with baking soda to scrub the stained areas. The combination has helped a little, but not enough IMO.
OTOH, I worry a little about having the brackets taken off in two years to find a yellow square in the center of each tooth as a result of trying too hard to whiten with the braces on!
So all I can say is, I feel your pain!
Braced: 2/21/2008
Next Adjustment: 4/21/2008
Ceramic brackets upper & lower
The glue/cement that is not under the bracket does stain but you can get this scraped off. Also, what colour are your ligs? Mine are clear and have turned yellow which I think can make your teeth look yellow from a distance.
TucsonDeb, i have the same fear- I thought I was the only one!! i am a reformed smoker and brushing 5-6 times a day with my braces and my teeth have never looked so sparkly! I am so going to have yellow squares under my brackets but I reckon by that stage we will be so used to our braces that we won't be able to quit the crazy brushing and will get rid of them pretty quickly!
