Coffee or Tea lover? Do you have staining of your clear aligner attachments?
ย Here are 5 tips to help prevent staining- especially if you have braces or clear aligners!
- Rinse your mouth with water: After drinking coffee, tea or colored drinks, rinse your mouth with water. Swishing water in your mouth can help remove any staining particles from the surface of your attachments. This will also help to neutralize any acids in the beverage that can damage your enamel.
- Use a straw: Using a straw can help prevent staining on your attachments by reducing the amount of contact your teeth have with the beverage. When you sip your drink through a straw, the liquid bypasses your teeth and goes straight to the back of your mouth. This way, the beverage is less likely to come into contact with your attachments, minimizing the risk of staining.
- Order iced drinks over hot drinks: The ice in the drink can help dilute the beverage, reducing the amount of pigments that come into contact with your attachments.
- Add milk to your drinks: Adding milk to your coffee or tea can help reduce the risk of staining. Milk contains proteins that bind to the pigments in the beverage, preventing them from sticking to your teeth and attachments. Milk is also a good source of calcium, which can help strengthen your teeth and protect against decay!
- Professional whitening is AFTER your treatment: It may be tempting to get professional teeth whitening while you have braces or aligners, but it’s best to wait until after your treatment. This is because the brackets or attachments on your teeth can make it difficult for the whitening agent to reach all areas of your teeth and it will be uneven whitening.ย
At your complimentary consultation with us at Happier Smiles Orthodontics in Escondido, we will review details depending on what treatment option you go with. We can’t wait to meet you!
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