The excitement of getting your braces can quickly fade if your teeth are discolored. Discoloration can happen for several reasons, but not following your orthodontist's instructions is the most likely cause. If you are wearing braces, here is what you need to know about preventing discoloration:

How Can You Prevent Discoloration?

One of the easiest ways you can keep your teeth from becoming discolored while wearing braces is to brush after each meal. Since you are wearing braces, food and other particles are often trapped against your teeth. The longer those substances can sit on your teeth, the more likely it is that you will have discoloration.

Although brushing after eating is important, allow about 20 minutes before doing so. After you eat, your enamel is slightly weakened. If you brush too hard, you could damage the enamel and increase the chances that you have a cavity. When you brush, consider using an electric brush for the best cleaning experience.

In addition to brushing, you need to have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis. Your dentist will remove any tartar and other buildups that you cannot remove yourself with a toothbrush and floss. Your dentist can also apply a sealant to your teeth to decrease the likelihood that you will experience a buildup and other problems.

What If Your Teeth Are Stained?

If you discover that your teeth are stained once the braces are removed, talk to your dentist about whitening your teeth. Due to the sensitivity that sometimes accompanies the removal of braces, you want to be sure that the whitening is safely done.

Using an at-home teeth whitening kit is an option, but not the safest one. The kit has a one-size-fits-all approach to whitening and the solution might be too strong for your teeth. You could experience uneven whitening and increased sensitivity.

You can also rely on your saliva to help with cleaning your teeth. As the saliva reaches the parts of your teeth that was covered by the braces, it will start to clean them. In fact, your dentist might recommend waiting a few weeks before whitening to allow your saliva time to wash the surfaces of your teeth.

Discoloration is not uncommon, but you do not have to go through it. Talk to your family dentist and orthodontist to learn more about what you can do to protect your teeth's whiteness while you are wearing braces.   

Contact a company like Carolina Forest Family Dentistry for more information and assistance.