Do braces cause staining

After braces are removed from patients, sometimes (rarely) staining can be seen in the outline of the brackets. Many people believe braces cause staining on the teeth. Some believe they even cause cavities. Why would anyone get braces if they cause staining? Do braces really cause staining?



The simple answer is “no”. In fact, if you look closely at teeth stained during braces treatment, you will notice the stain only surrounds the bracket, but the part of the tooth that was glued to and directly under the bracket is perfectly unharmed and healthy. The bracket actually protects the enamel where it attaches to the tooth.

So where does this staining come from?

The harsh truth is that staining or cavities during orthodontic treatment are caused not by braces, but by poor patient oral hygiene, primarily poor toothbrushing technique.

Braces are a very good “plaque trap”. Plaque accumulates on and around braces quickly and easily, primarily because they are harder to clean. Unchecked plaque leads to staining and eventually cavities. With proper home care, braces cause neither staining nor cavities. With proper brushing technique, the plaque has nowhere to hide, and staining will not occur.

What do I do if I see staining?

The #1 thing to do is improve brushing technique. The stains mostly disappear over the few months following bracket removal, though some can be persistent. There are a few products that orthodontists or dentists can use to help the process in severe cases. Most people ask if they can undergo tooth whitening to resolve staining. Unfortunately, tooth whitening is a generalized process, so while it may whiten the stain, it will also whiten the parts of the tooth that are not stained, leaving the stained appearance to the teeth.

Additionally, and counterintuitively, the stains are actually often white, but whiter than the normal tooth and it looks out of place. Tooth whitening also does not address the true molecular cause of the staining. Because of this, I always recommend waiting at least a few months for the body to naturally recover and improve the staining on its own before commencing with tooth whitening.

How can my orthodontist help prevent staining and cavities?

The primary cause of staining and cavities is improper brushing technique. The best thing orthodontists can do is properly teach brushing techniques specific to patients with braces. Once that is done, it is up to the patient to maintain good oral hygiene throughout treatment. It takes a little practice, and might add one minute to your daily routine, but it is very simple.

There are also certain products used when braces are placed that can help prevent staining preemptively, and you should ask your orthodontist about what he does to help prevent staining.

As a last resort, orthodontists sometimes will remove brackets if they see consistent poor oral hygiene, namely in the form of plaque accumulation or significantly inflamed gingiva (gums). It would be better to have teeth without cavities and significant staining than to have straight teeth with cavities and staining. Continuation of teeth straightening can be done at a later point when the patient is more committed to oral hygiene.