While Invisalign aligners themselves do not stain teeth it is possible for teeth to discolour while wearing them. In most cases, Invisalign aligners do isolate teeth from potential staining but, it must be remembered that the aligner is not a secure waterproof seal. Subsequently, consumption of beverages or foods which possess intense colouration may still result in aligner or teeth discoloration. If this exposure is prolonged it is even possible that staining occurs, starting off by turning yellow in initial stages and slowly becoming brown if exposure is not controlled.
Frequent sipping of tea, coffee, or fizzy drinks can be especially detrimental will not help your cause either. Dental care professionals will offer advice on avoiding this staining and offer cleaning services to deal with the potential debris that has been accumulated to avoid significant staining. The most effective methods for avoiding those dreaded teeth stains are what we will be talking about in this blog…
How to avoid teeth staining during Invisalign treatment
Here are our key tips on avoiding potential staining while undergoing Invisalign based treatment:
Changing your diet
Potential staining can be significantly avoided by ensuring that your diet either limits or excludes items which have strong discolouring potential. This includes coloured juices, fizzy drinks, wine, coffee, tea, or any dark sauces. To avoid staining, its best to thoroughly wash your mouth with water after consumption of these foodstuffs or, if convenient, to brush your teeth afterwards. Drinking tea/coffee and then placing the aligner straight into your mouth will hold the stain causing product close to the teeth. What’s more is that as the trays are worn, it will prevent the saliva washing away the stain causing beverages.
Impeccable oral hygiene
Strong oral hygiene is essential no matter what, especially if you want to avoid potential staining issues. Regular brushing will aid in avoiding the chance of stain-causing pigments and plaque building up on teeth or the Invisalign aligner. There are special flossers which can be used to assist in thoroughly cleaning the aligner and teeth. Using a mouthwash and toothpaste which contains fluoride can also help avoid staining, by helping prevent potential demineralization and the formation of any white spots.
Avoid whitening treatment
It is best to avoid any whitening treatment while undergoing the Invisalign process, as the whitening will not cover the parts of the teeth that may still be moving. Subsequently, you may end up with areas on parts of your teeth which are different shades, and this can effectively be a form of staining. Instead, it is best to use less intense forms of whitening before the Invisalign treatment is finished, such as whitening toothpaste or mouthwash. This will ensure that teeth are still whitened to an extent, while also avoiding undergoing a potentially costly treatment that may not be fully effective.
Attend cleaning sessions
Although the aforementioned tips for avoiding staining are useful and should be followed, there are certain areas around your mouth where a brush alone cannot reach or deal with comprehensively enough. These areas can only be dealt with through a dental cleaning session, in which a skilled hygienist will use specially designed tools to deal with these difficult- to-reach areas. This will help remove potential stains, stain-causing pigments, or plaque which has built up over time. While these sessions typically take place twice a year, they can be increased if your situation requires it.
If you are looking to transform your smile with a teeth straightening treatment, our expert Sutton team are always here to help – 020 8629 1433.
