I had braces for more than two years. Six weeks ago, I finally got them taken off. I was so excited to finally get rid of those braces, but now it seems like I have a whole new set of problems with my teeth.
For one thing, they are getting darker every day. I almost never drink any kind of dark pop or coffee, but it seems like my teeth are getting more and more stained. I can’t hardly stand to eat anything that is really hot or really cold, because it REALLY hurts. And it feels like there are “dips” in the front of my teeth now, spots where the tooth feels rougher than the areas around it.
What happened? Did my orthodontist damage my teeth when he removed the cement holding the brackets in place? What can I do about this?
Thanks for your help,
Eddie in Mishawaka
Dear Eddie -
It is highly unlikely that your orthodontist caused damage removing the brackets. That is a very routine procedure and almost never results in the kinds of problems you describe. More likely, you are suffering from the effects of less than stellar dental care while you were wearing your braces.
If you noticed white patches on your teeth where the brackets used to be, those are probably areas of decalcification. Those may also be the areas that are now staining, and that feel rougher than the surrounding tooth surfaces. What often happens is that patients–especially teens–are not as careful as they should be about brushing while they are wearing braces. Food that would normally just slide off your teeth becomes caught in the brackets, and if the patient does not brush immediately and thoroughly after eating, the acid-producing bacteria of the mouth work away at that food AND at the surface of the tooth for hours.
The damage is obvious when the braces come off. Those pitted spots may continue to chip and stain, eventually turning quite brown. Soft spots of decay may even be present underneath some of the spots. The extreme sensitivity of your teeth indicates that you are probably missing some enamel.
Teeth whitening services (over the counter or in-office) will not help. Dental bonding can be used to treat the damage if it is confined to just a few spots that are relatively small. If the damage is more significant, you may need porcelain veneers.
Situations like these are only one of the reasons that Invisalign braces can be such a great choice for teens. The aligners are removed to eat and brush/floss, then replaced.