I'm getting married in May and I need to white these teeth o' mine. I'm a daily coffee drinker and yes, it's taking it's toll.

Are there any safe over the counters that I can use to whiten while wearing my braces? I called my ortho office and they told me my teeth wouldn't fit in the trays.

Any experts here?

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This may not be the best option as I would assume only professional whitening would be best but from what i have researched online you should not whiten your teeth with braces on...but the following works well for me!

I use Crest Whitening Toothpaste with baking soda which i brush with 3 times a day. Usually after anything that is dark that could stain my ceramics (like juice or sauces). Try brushing directly after anything staining so that it wont set in...I am in love with Crest Whitening rinse too!!! I use the rinse twice a day...it tastes exactly like hydrogen peroxide and its kind of gross but well worth it in my opinion.

My dentist and Ortho always say how white my teeth are and the only explanation i have is the brands of toothpaste and rinses I use and maybe the fact that I don’t drink coffee or dark beverages.

I am not a coffe/tea/coke/pepsi drinker and this may be unrealistic but try drinking dark things through a straw so that it does not stain your braces and teeth. It may sound crazy to drink hot coffee through a straw but maybe do this a week or two before your wedding to prevent further staining. I heard about this from a magazine…they said this is why you always see celebrities drinking through straws (it prevents teeth staining. maybe a weird myth but it makes sense). I drink hot chocolate a lot in the winter and since getting my braces I always use a straw...may seem weird but it helps.

So that is my 2 cents if it’s worth anything good luck!

Please don't use bleaching products - professional or over the counter - whilst braced, or you'll end most likely up with uneven colouration once you get the braces off.

However, whitening toothpastes are fine as these don't bleach, but rather just remove superficial surface staining.

When I got braced my ortho told me that if my teeth and/or braces got dicoloured due to coffee, red wine, curry etc. an appt with the hygeinist could sort it out.

I haven't tried it as I'm not affected and so can't vouch for it, but it might be worth enquiring about? If it works an appt as close as possible to your wedding day would be an easy way to deal with it.

I'm sure I read somewhere, on here or literature from my ortho that you shouldn't use bicarb toothpastes while braced.

i just wanted to clarify that i use crest baking soday & peroide whitening brand. It is not harmful in anyway to teeth or your braces and it is used to prevent further surface staining. Both my dentist and ortho promote crest in their offices and say that any of their products are safe to use on teeth and with braces.

Since i have ceramics they actually gave me a small tube of the toothpaste in my welcome packet along with cupons so that is what i have used since getting my braces on.

but certainly check with your ortho/dentist to make sure it safe...

Why don'y you get the Pearl drops Party Sparkle (I think its called that). It's supposed to give an instant sparkle to your smile which makes your teeth look whiter

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I drink way too much tea which is even worse than coffee. I use whitening toothpaste and rinse now and have cut down on the tea but my teeth still stain, albeit more slowly than before.

Nothing can beat a proper cleaning by the hygienist, it's like a new set of teeth Have a professional clean a week or so before the wedding. If you have surface staining like me the difference is amazing.

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2 upper 1st bicuspids extracted
Uppers braced (metal), molar bands upper & lower 25 May 07
Lowers braced 22 Oct 07
Next adjustment 21 Apr 2008
Estimated brace time 2.5 years