How did your child's teeth look when their braces finally came off?

[luvflorida]

My DD13 has had braces on her teeth for three and a half years, and she is scheduled to get them off within the next few months.

I've heard stories of braces leaving behind white spots or marks on teeth. Has this happened to anyone? Brushing her teeth is not high on my daughter's list of priorities. At her age you wouldn't think she would need to be reminded to brush, but she does.


Anyone not happy with the way their child's teeth looked after the braces were removed?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I had braces for 4 1/2 years (ages 12-almost 17) and I never noticed any white spots or anything. After I got my braces off, my teeth felt HUGE and very very white. They practically glowed in the dark. I almost didn't know how to talk without the tons of metal in my mouth.

 

[shelbyjosh]

DD got hers on last August. We are in phase 1 now. She will get them off in the fall, depending on how cooperative she is wearing headgear. I am always pestering her to brush. I can get more gunk off when I do it. I am scared that her teeth will be stained.

 

[floridafam]

I had those little tiny braces on for about a year and a half and I had spots when they were removed. I had a good cleaning and also had some bonding done to my front six teeth.

I brushed regularly while the braces were on.

 

[hockeymom7691]

Originally posted by luvflorida
Brushing her teeth is not high on my daughter's list of priorities. At her age you wouldn't think she would need to be reminded to brush, but she does.

I can relate to this! My DS13 also has braces and doesn't do a very good job brushing his teeth. Even when I remind him (which I agree, we shouldn't have to) it's not a very good job.

I do have to say that last night I heard him in the bathroom brushing. When he came out I said "Was that you I heard brushing your teeth without even being told?" Let me tell you I was in shock! He said "Wow, I can't believe I did that either". Hopefully he will continue and the teeth won't be stained!

 

[always quiet]

My son just got them off about 2 weeks ago......................yes to the white spots! My neighbor's DD had braces as well, was very good at brushing, and she still had the spots! I honestly wonder if it has something to do with the 'new' braces, the ones that only have the brackets glued to the teeth and not the band around the whole tooth. I had braces for 7 (yes 7!!!!!!!!!!!!) and had the old style. I never had any spots or discoloration on the teeth and believe me, I was not the best brusher!

I bought my son a box of Crest White Strips to use once they came off. He used them and compained loudly (!!) at how they 'burned' his teeth. I mentioned this to my neighbor and she said the EXACT same thing happened to her DD. I don't know whether it's because the teeth are so sensitive once the braces come off or what. I used them, along with my youngest DD and neither one of us noticed any burning sensation. The orthodontist gave my son a bottle of Colgate Simply White and he has used that with no problems what so ever. And it does do a great job! In only the couple weeks time, 95% of the white spots have vanished. I highly recommend it!!

PS Just a heads up.............the retainer hurt MORE than the braces did! It was one complaint I wasn't prepared to hear!!

 

[dizagain]

My older DD got hers off and her teeth looked great. She has a white spot on one front tooth from a previous accident. The ortho says wait until she's finished with 2nd round of braces and have something done to it then. Younger DD has white spots on several teeth and she still has braces on. She's a terrible brusher - I have to stay in the bathroom with her one of her brushing times each day and time her and watch her like a hawk.

Now as for "train track" white squares from not brushing...I had thought it was a myth, but I know a boy who had them!!!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I wore braces for almost 3 years (ages 12 1/2-15). My tooth felt huge and very white when my braces were removed, as another poster stated. There were no marks left on my teeth. A friend of mine (an adult) just had her braces removed about a year ago after wearing them for 3 years and I have never heard her complain about spots on her teeth either.

 

[tmq2766]

I am so glad this thread was started. My DD9 gets hers off on the 31st and I was wondering the same thing about the white spots... I wonder if the spots are caused by the adhesive they use to put the brackets on. ???
My DD is also finishing phase I and keeping my fingers crossed that there wont be a phase II.

 

[tiggersmom2]

The "white spots" are decalcification of the tooth surface. This happens when plaque is allowed to sit for a long time on the tooth. White spots are not caused by the braces but by not getting the plaque off in a timely manner. If anybody's child has decalcified spots on their teeth, I recommend they swish with the flouride rinse - ACT. You can get it at any drug store or Wal-Mart and it will strengthen the decalcified spots.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

My son had spots and I was not thrilled that the ortho did not clean the glue. They looked straight but very yellow (and he did brush and floss) He still has the white spots so I will try the Act thing but they are very white now since he had them cleaned and is a tooth fanatic.

 

[sk!mom]

My DS wore them for 3 years and had to be constantly nagged by me and the Orthdontist to do a better job of keeping them clean. I worried that they would be stained, but they looked PERFECT when the braces came off.

Of course my DS loved that since he had been constantly nagged that they would look terrible if he didn't brush better.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I was BAD about toothbrushing and had no white spots at all when I got my braces off about 3 years ago. I agree though, it's becoming more of a problem, probably new type of glue or something. And yes, the teeth look HUGE for a few days. I felt like I had horse teeth. But then they started to look more normal. It just took a little while to get used to them.

 

[nemo1987]

i had mine on for almost two years and when i got mine off my teeth looked fine. no white spots or anything. they used this stuff to brush my teeth with that was really gritty and it made my teeth sparkle and shine with whiteness. and this was a good white not bad. i never had a problem with "spots" i was a good brusher- though i could have been better, and my teeth still look good to this day and i have had them off for almost three years!!!
**Sarah**

 

[chesirechik]

I had mine on for 5.5 years and my teeth were a total mess when they came off. All kinds of spots. I ended up getting all my top teeth bonded because they looked so bad. I was also not so good at brushing and keeping them clean.

I really think it depends on the kids teeth though. My brother didn't take care of his teeth at all and his were find when they came off.

I still have a ton of dental problems so I think I was doomed from the start.

I did know a kid that had a black square under the bracket when they took his off. It was really gross!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I remember when one of my friends in HS got hers off. (this was about 30 years ago) she was about 15, and very sloppy about taking care of them. She ate candy all the time, smoked, and I doubt she brushed very well. When she got them off, she had cavities on her two front teeth...It was awful..

 

[Jockaroo]

I got mine off about 20 years ago (dang that makes me feel OLD!) and I brushed like crazy. I did have a few minor dingy places around the glue where the brackets were attached. My orthodontist did a decent job polishing them and referred me to my family dentist for a proper cleaning and check up. I had this about a week after they came off. Took that long for them not to be really sore. The cleaning took all the stains off. And I had no cavities or soft spots on my teeth.

Word of caution. My current dentist recommended not using over the counter tooth whitening products. She said these are extremely harsh and is seeing many teens and college age patients who have severe enamel deterioration. You might want to get a product recommendation from your family dentist about any whitening procedures.

 

[Snowysmom]

When my older DS had his braces off his teeth looked great. He was very careful to take good care of his teeth. He had them on for 2 years. Younger DS should be getting his off in a month or two and I am concerned about the shape of his teeth. He is not so great at caring for them in spite of warnings and proddings by me and the dentist. I hope his look good too!