Caring for Teeth After Removing Braces

What You Should Know About Caring for Teeth After Braces

Straightening teeth not only improves a patient’s overall oral health but also provides him or her with an improved smile. Braces can help redefine a smile at any age, with almost 25 percent of orthodontic patients being adults. However, perfecting a smile does not start and end with using braces – once the braces are removed, there are a few options patients have to help further enhance their smile, which include using teeth whiteners, wearing a retainer, or having the teeth reshaped after the braces are removed.

Whitening Teeth

Teeth can become stained over the years from being exposed to certain foods and drinks including tea, coffee, wine, and tomato sauce. We often associate a white smile with being attractive, and even if teeth have been stained, it is possible to bring them back to a sparkling white color. Teeth whitening is available at most dental offices and often involves a peroxide-based gel that helps remove stains deep within the teeth’s surface, which can make them five to seven shades whiter. While whitening works well for yellowed teeth, it is not as effective on brown or grayed teeth.

Aftercare for Braces

Once braces have been removed, it is important for patients to actively participate in their teeth’s aftercare. Newly straightened teeth need to be stabilized, and this is often accomplished by using a retainer. Retainers are custom-made appliances that are constructed of metal wire and plastic, which helps keep teeth from moving from their new placement. Retainers are generally removable, but they can also be fixed depending on what type of aftercare a patient requires. Often, patients are required to wear retainers full time for the first six months after their braces come off, followed by wearing them only at night.

Teeth Contouring

If there are aspects of their smile they want to change, patients also have the option to use teeth contouring after their braces have been removed. Dental contouring or tooth reshaping is a cosmetic procedure that can alter the length, shape, and position of the teeth and help fix minor imperfections in a patient’s smile, such as misshaped teeth, overlapping teeth, slightly crooked teeth, chipped teeth, or overly pointy teeth. A dental professional can help patients decide which dental contouring procedure is best suited to meet their needs and will take x-rays to determine if there is enough bone present for patients to partake in a dental contouring procedure.

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