I dont want marks!

[Chloe1]

My ortho's office told me to drink coffee and sodas through a straw. That was because I have clear brackets on my top teeth but I think it helps with staining too. I use pearl drops toothpaste and I am trying to brush my front teeth extra. But I know the only thing that will help is bleaching my teeth when I'm done!!

[platinum]

she didn't really clean the staining off too good-i think the wire was in her way.

Ask your ortho to remove your archwire for your cleaning. I was told that I can go one day without archwires if nessescary. Luckily my dentist and orthho offices are 5 in walk apart.

[smile2006]

This is funny. I started using straws after jaw surgery for drinking everything. I got addicted to straws especially for coffee (I use the coffee stirring straws). I'm all done and my braces are off but I still like straws!!!!! My husband teases me about this......I really do think they help with staining braces or no braces!!!!

[Jojo22]

I'd just like to say, this site is really reassuring, as I only had my braces fitted about a month ago. At 22, I thought I was the only adult in the world with braces (not true, I know). It's good to know I'm not alone.

As for staining, I am constantly worrying about this, as my teeth were not a hundred percent sparkling beforehand. Smoking and coffee were two of my favourite things, and I've almost cut them both out. Down to half a cigarette a day and drinking one cup of coffee a week...through a straw! Thanks for all your positive thinking guys, it really helps!

[Jojo22]

I'd just like to say, this site is really reassuring, as I only had my braces fitted about a month ago. At 22, I thought I was the only adult in the world with braces (not true, I know). It's good to know I'm not alone.

As for staining, I am constantly worrying about this, as my teeth were not a hundred percent sparkling beforehand. Smoking and coffee were two of my favourite things, and I've almost cut them both out. Down to half a cigarette a day and drinking one cup of coffee a week...through a straw! Thanks for all your positive thinking guys, it really helps!

[skintz]

Hehe, don't worry Jojo! KK, i can't seen to find that colgate toothpaste you use, do you know where i might be able to get it off the net?
Thanks

[Lisa65]

I don't think it's sold in the UK. I had a look at Colgate's UK site and there's no mention of anything containing both.

You can get baking soda toothpaste here (Arm and Hammer make one but I thought it tasted disgusting, and you can also get Colgate Sensation Deep Clean Whitening) and you can buy peroxide in a bottle over the counter in Superdrug. So you can get the same effect - you'd just have to do it in 2 stages.

If you really want to splash out, Janina toothpaste contains enzymes that release peroxide when applied to the teeth. It's pretty expensive, but I read a few reviews on the web, and it seems to have met with a favourable response. Their products don't contain baking soda, but supposedly the enzymes work to reduce both extrinsic and intrinsic staining, without the enamel abrasion that "normal" whitening toothpastes have the potential to cause if used too often or too vigorously

[Miss Smiley]

I'm a smoker and I love to eat! So far, I've still had compliments on the bright, whiteness of my teeth and love to use straws. I'm weird, yes I know. Since the beginning of having some tooth sensitivities, I've been using straws to drink everything. Now, I'm hooked and drink my sodas, teas, and just about anything but water through a straw. Ortho and Dental offices both gave me a thumbs up for clean and white teeth! My bf also says it's because I brush all the time... He doesn't know anyone who brushes like me. But all his friends had braces when they were in middle school and high school. Also, I like to sit up in front of the telly and brush slowly making sure to hit each tooth when I have my manual brush. The sonicare tends to cover the telly in toothpaste, not so fun to clean up.

[Thathrill]

I don't eat/drink a lot of straining food but my poor (clear/white) power chains suffer LOL. I do have almost 1 cup a weekday. i drink diet pop and of course lots of water and white tea is my new obsession. My teeth have always looked nice and white. they still do. i am more concerned about the enamel behind the brackets once debanded.

[timewaster]

also to not get a thinner enamel, use a toothpaste with flourid and a mouth wash with it. some people get marks because the enamel is thinner where the brackets weren't. So yeah, an other tip to avoid marks and to accomplish the picture perfect smile:D hehe

OMG, regulering! So what activities might cause your enamel to become thinner? I am now terrified!