Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi Everyone!

I just got my braces put on yesterday (ceramic up top and metal on the bottom) and I just had a few questions about what I can and can't eat.
So first I just wanted to know if green tea will stain the ceramic ones, and also what I can and can't eat so if you know anything that stains ceramic ones feel free to comment!

Thanks! <3

KLM1996 wrote:Hi Everyone!

I just got my braces put on yesterday (ceramic up top and metal on the bottom) and I just had a few questions about what I can and can't eat.
So first I just wanted to know if green tea will stain the ceramic ones, and also what I can and can't eat so if you know anything that stains ceramic ones feel free to comment!

Thanks! <3

Ceramic braces don't stain but the ligatures (little elastics holding the wire onto the brackets) will stain. I have metal ties on my ceramic brackets (upper and lower), eat curry 2-3 times a week, 3-4 cups of coffee and/or green tea and have no staining. If you have self-litigating, then you won't have a problem.

Stay away from crunchy and sticky foods because they can dislodge a bracket, but other than that, ceramics don't have any special problems with food.

As KLM said, the brackets themselves are very resistant to staining. The ligs however? holy cow. They will pick up a stain quickly.

I drink coffee daily (with cream) with no problem. If I can't overcome my Cheetos urge though...I end up with yellow looking braces. ugh. I try to limit "heavily colored" foods to the few days before an adjustment. I don't really drink tea much anymore as it stained my pearl ligs.

Otherwise, same restrictions as traditional: no crunchy, sticky, gooey, etc. I have found anything with a "skin" to be a nightmare unless it's cut first. I hate eating rice now because it seems to jam in everywhere! And while I love bread, I have to eat it knowing it's going to result in a marathon flossing session. Ahhhh. They joys!

I was told to avoid fizzy drinks...the Carbonated water isn't good for the brackets?? Curries!! I ate one once without thinking and ended up with quite badly stained Ligs and still 2 weeks to go until my adjustment!...If you can't live without Curries maybe make the night before an adjustment (when they should change your Ligs) your curry night! Bolognese sauces can be quite staining. Avoid Paprika! Nuts, Popcorn, sticky sweets and toffees...

If you get clear ligs on your ceramic braces they're pretty prone to staining. :( I love green tea and would brew it from leaf - unfortunately it did stain my ligs a pale green/yellow. So I gave it up and now drink white tea or plain hot water instead. I guess it's a bit weird but when you have 6 weeks+ in between appointments I prefer to keep them as clear as possible...

Other things I've found that stain are mustard (the kind you put in hot dogs, not wholegrain), definitely curry (I had to give it up) anything with turmeric in it ...basically anything that stains tupperware will stain your ligs. Funnily enough beetroot juice doesn't stain mine, I thought it would.

I get smoke ligs on my bottom brackets. I've only stained them twice, once really badly with an accidental curry (I meant to not eat the curry, then I forgot and tried the curry, then I had yellow chains ). They weren't horrendous though. With the smoke ligs I've drunk coffee twice a day, tea, green tea, eaten turmeric (so long as it's not a main ingredient). I have discovered that pickles stain though (boo!). Also be wary of life savers. I broke a bracket when I didn't think before I ate one of those

[quote="KLM1996"]Hi Everyone!

I just got my braces put on yesterday (ceramic up top and metal on the bottom) and I just had a few questions about what I can and can't eat.
So first I just wanted to know if green tea will stain the ceramic ones, and also what I can and can't eat so if you know anything that stains ceramic ones feel free to comment!

Thanks! <3[/quote]

I will be in the same situation as you starting Tuesday I am so self conscious and fear staining as well. Hopefully I dont learn things the hard way.

I think staining will happen to some extent to everyone. You can lessen the chance by avoiding some types of food and by cleaning your teeth after every meal but most ortho's are fairly good at replacing discoloured ligs if you ask them. Your brackets are unlikely to stain but again, good teeth cleaning is the key.

To answer your specific question: Green tea will be fine. Black tea is not. (It won't stain your braces, but the tannins WILL stain your teeth!)

My clear brackets don't stain at all. They're self ligating, so I don't have to worry about ligatures.

On the other hand, I have a clear power chain on my bottom teeth, which has gone a lovely shade of green.. Absolutely hanging out for my next adjustment..

My uppers are ceramic self ligating so no ligs. Been in power chains for about a year of my 15months duration and its those pesky power chains that will stain with anything. I don't smoke, drink alcohol or drink tea or coffee but they always turn yellow! It might be the dark colas I drink, so I'm back on drinking with a straw.