Can I Whiten My Teeth with Braces or Invisalign?

You may want to brighten your teeth while you are in orthodontic treatment. But is it recommended by orthodontists in Canton to whiten your teeth while you have braces for children or Invisalign for teens? Here is some advice from Masri Orthodontics, your orthodontist in Livonia.

Can you whiten your teeth with braces for adults? It is recommended that you refrain from using whitening strips and products with whitening agents. This is because these products cannot penetrate the tooth beneath your brackets. This will cause white marks to remain on your teeth even years after treatment. It may not be possible to even out the tone because the area that was not whitened while you were in orthodontic treatment will always remain another shade.

What about whitening with Invisalign for adults? If you have attachments on your teeth, whitening products will not be able to penetrate underneath them. To prevent your attachments from appearing discolored, refrain from excessive consumption of coffee, herbal teas, and spices that are known to stain. Brush thoroughly before placing your aligners back in your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water can help remove stains that may have already begun to cling to your attachments.

For the best results, wait a few months after the removal of your braces to begin whitening. This allows any swelling from the gums to subside and reveal the whole tooth so that it can be whitened.