Yellow braces are a very common condition that occurs when you do not practice proper oral hygiene when wearing braces or due to an unreasonable diet that causes discoloration on the elastic. To overcome this condition, you should replace the elastic periodically as directed by your doctor.
1. The effect of elastic bands when wearing braces
Elastic bands are an important part of the orthodontic appliance besides the archwire and brackets when you choose braces. Depending on each specific condition, the doctor will prescribe you to wear different types of elastic bands, which can be fixed elastic bands, separating elastic bands, intermaxillary elastic bands or stretching elastic bands.
These types of elastic bands have the effect of supporting the archwire and braces, helping to stabilize the pulling force and bring the best orthodontic results in a short time. If it is a fixed elastic band, it will be used throughout the treatment period, but if it is an intermaxillary or separating elastic band, it will be used for a shorter time, from 7 to 14 days.
2. Causes of yellowing of braces elastic bands
In addition to the condition of stretching and breaking due to the impact of daily chewing force, the condition of yellowing of braces elastic bands also often occurs due to many different causes such as:
2.1. Improper oral hygiene
Elastic bands are often fixed to the teeth or attached in positions that are difficult to clean and reach, so if you do not clean them properly, they will easily become yellow and discolored, causing loss of aesthetics. This is because food residue that has existed in the oral cavity for a long time is affected by other factors and turns dark yellow.
2.2. Eating dark-colored foods
Elastic bands are usually made of rubber, so if you regularly use some dark-colored foods, they are very easy to stick. Therefore, the habit of using foods such as coca, coffee, curry, turmeric, … is the cause of yellowing of braces.
2.3. Regular smoking
Regular smoking is also one of the main causes of yellowing of orthodontic elastics. Nicotine in cigarettes is not only harmful to the lungs, stomach, … but also affects oral health in the long term. This substance is usually colorless, but when exposed to oxygen, it will turn yellow, discoloring the tooth enamel and the braces in a short time.
2.4. Braces at an unreliable dental address
In addition to the above factors, if you have braces at some unreliable dental addresses, using poor quality braces, they are also very susceptible to discoloration. Not only that, the braces are not strictly inspected, which can cause the braces process to fail, the braces are easily stretched and broken, affecting the tooth enamel.
3. Does yellow braces have any effect?
Yellow braces are a condition that no one wants to encounter because this can greatly affect the overall aesthetics, making many people no longer really confident in daily communication. In addition, the elastic bands being stuck with food plaque in the long term will cause other diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. Oral diseases arising during the orthodontic process will directly affect the effectiveness as well as the treatment time.
4. How to deal with yellow braces elastics
You can fix the problem of yellow braces elastics in the following ways:
4.1. Replace new elastics
Unlike braces or archwires, braces elastics can be easily replaced at any time. They are made of rubber, so it is inevitable that they will stretch after a period of pulling and tightening the teeth. Therefore, to ensure that the orthodontic process is not interrupted, the doctor will periodically replace the elastics. Normally, fixed elastics will be replaced every 3-4 months, while intermaxillary elastics will be replaced every day to ensure that they do not turn yellow.
4.2. Choose dark colored elastics
Elastic braces come in many different colors such as white, yellow, blue, etc. In cases where elastics often turn yellow quickly when using white or transparent elastics, your doctor may recommend dark colored elastics such as black, gray, blue, etc.
5. Preventing yellowed elastic braces
To prevent yellowed elastic braces quickly, you should note the following:
5.1. Choosing the right toothbrush
For people with braces, considering choosing the right toothbrush is essential to keep the mouth clean. The top criteria when choosing a toothbrush is that the bristles must be soft and flexible. According to experts, interdental brushes are the best choice for people with braces.
This brush has small bristles so it can easily reach deep inside, especially at the braces or between the braces, elastic bands and archwires.
5.2. Brush your teeth properly
When you have fixed braces on your teeth, you need to pay more attention to how to brush your teeth properly than before:
– Rinse your mouth 1-2 times with clean water to remove food debris accumulated inside.
– Wet the toothbrush and apply a sufficient amount of toothpaste, tilt the brush at about 45 degrees and gently brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces.
– Brush your teeth 2-3 times/day, especially after each meal.
– Change your toothbrush every 3-4 months to ensure bacteria do not accumulate.
5.3. Use dental floss
Dental floss is also a tool that helps you deeply clean stubborn food plaque inside the teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach. When using it, you should pay attention to using gentle force to avoid damaging the gums and teeth.
5.4. Combine a water flosser
If possible, you can invest in a water flosser to increase cleaning ability. This machine will use high-pressure water jets to penetrate deep inside, places that dental floss cannot clean. In addition, some machines also have the function of massaging gum tissue, reducing pain and preventing yellowing of rubber bands.
5.5. Use mouthwash
In addition, you can combine the use of mouthwash containing fluoride to kill all bacteria in the oral cavity, while preventing bad breath as well as some other oral diseases.
5.6. Reasonable diet
In addition to oral hygiene, an unreasonable diet can also cause braces to turn yellow quickly. You should avoid or limit dark-colored foods such as carbonated water, red wine, coffee, chocolate, etc. to avoid staining the enamel as well as the elastic.
5.7. Do not smoke
Smoking is one of the habits that causes braces to turn yellow quickly. Not only does it cause discoloration of teeth and elastics, the toxic substances in cigarette smoke can cause serious effects on overall health.
5.8. Periodic scaling
Even though you are wearing orthodontic appliances, regular scaling is extremely necessary to prevent the braces and the tooth surface from becoming yellow. The more and thicker the tartar accumulates, the more bacteria will grow and attack, causing tooth decay, gingivitis, etc.
So yellow braces are an undesirable condition but still occur frequently due to many different causes. To prevent this, you need to pay attention to daily oral hygiene as well as a suitable diet.
