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Original poster

Did your teen get yellow marks behind their fixed brace? If so, how did you improve?

20 replies

Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 15:59

DS is soon to have his brace removed. He's been pretty good about minimilising sugar and has had almost no fizzy drinks. But I can see yellow marks behind the bit where the brace fixes.

What can be done about this post removal?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 17/07/2025 16:02

I had a fixed brace. Once off my teeth were yellow.
Despite various special toothpastes nothing worked.
I ended up getting veneers.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS.
30 plus years on the veneers are chipped and stained and I have zero chance of replacing them unless I win the lottery.
I wish I had just kept yellow teeth.

Original poster
Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 16:25

Sorry to hear this. Did you consider professional whitening? Or does that not work?

OP posts:
TheGoodHuman · 17/07/2025 16:28

I had this. My tooth was also chipped so I had composite bonding. Looked amazing until it fell off but it's only about £200 per tooth which is ok if you don't need loads done. Lasted me 12 years and getting it redone next month!

Interested in this thread?

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Dental health
Original poster
Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 16:31

I have composite bonding on my two front teeth as they had natural grooves. It is amazing. It discolours over time but it's great for a long time. My first lasted 18 years!

So, I guess this would be possible if his front teeth have bad spots?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 17/07/2025 16:40

Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 16:25

Sorry to hear this. Did you consider professional whitening? Or does that not work?

I'm not sure if that existed when I had my veneers were done (it was way back in the 90s).
It might be an option now for your son.

TheGoodHuman · 17/07/2025 19:01

Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 16:31

I have composite bonding on my two front teeth as they had natural grooves. It is amazing. It discolours over time but it's great for a long time. My first lasted 18 years!

So, I guess this would be possible if his front teeth have bad spots?

Mine thankfully didn't discolour at all! I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do this.

Lollygaggle · 17/07/2025 19:04

Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 15:59

DS is soon to have his brace removed. He's been pretty good about minimilising sugar and has had almost no fizzy drinks. But I can see yellow marks behind the bit where the brace fixes.

What can be done about this post removal?

Yellow marks are most likely the glue that holds the brackets on , which can discolour with turmeric, curries etc. When brace comes off glue is polished off and should be problem gone.

ExemplaryVegetable · 17/07/2025 19:05

My 15yo had brown-ish marks behind the braces and I thought it would be permanent but when they were taken off the dentist used some sort of polisher and they looked great! He had also followed all the rules; I’m sure this will have made a difference for your son too OP

Original poster
Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 19:17

Oh, that's really good to know. Thanks

OP posts:
Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 19:34

Hi OP, how long has he had braces and how long has he got to go?

I had braces for 3 years and I was terrified of getting marks on my teeth but I didn't. I used some oral B super floss (not an ad lol) which you can thread under the brackets, and a gentle toothbrush and I was so thorough, and then mouthwash, my while routine took like 20 minutes.

When I got them off they did a scale and polish and my teeth didn't have any marks. Hopefully your son will be the same. I also drank water regularly and if he eats/drinks something sweet, it's best to have it all in one go (so no constant snacking or sipping coke, just drink it) because your mouth remains acidic post sugar for 45 minutes, so if you're constantly sipping/snacking, your mouth is staying acidic all day.

If he doesn't drink pop much then even better.

Original poster
Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 20:41

Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 19:34

Hi OP, how long has he had braces and how long has he got to go?

I had braces for 3 years and I was terrified of getting marks on my teeth but I didn't. I used some oral B super floss (not an ad lol) which you can thread under the brackets, and a gentle toothbrush and I was so thorough, and then mouthwash, my while routine took like 20 minutes.

When I got them off they did a scale and polish and my teeth didn't have any marks. Hopefully your son will be the same. I also drank water regularly and if he eats/drinks something sweet, it's best to have it all in one go (so no constant snacking or sipping coke, just drink it) because your mouth remains acidic post sugar for 45 minutes, so if you're constantly sipping/snacking, your mouth is staying acidic all day.

If he doesn't drink pop much then even better.

Edited

I honestly can't remember when he got them. Maybe a year ago? A bit more?

He's never going to floss every day or be painstaking. he says he brushes well (electric) and he uses a mouthwash. He has sugar but does try to be careful, and no fizzy drinls. You sound mature - he's not, really.

I can only hope he's done enough!

OP posts:
Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 20:55

Potatoesfried · 17/07/2025 20:41

I honestly can't remember when he got them. Maybe a year ago? A bit more?

He's never going to floss every day or be painstaking. he says he brushes well (electric) and he uses a mouthwash. He has sugar but does try to be careful, and no fizzy drinls. You sound mature - he's not, really.

I can only hope he's done enough!

Show quote history

OK hopefully he won't need them for very long.

Brushing and mouthwash twice a day (but prioritise evening if he'll only do once a day) is good. I suspect the worst examples you see online are people who don't brush at all, not as uncommon as you'd think.

If he likes gadgets maybe look at a waterpik for him, it does the same as floss but will get at anything in the brackets too

Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 20:56

Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 20:55

OK hopefully he won't need them for very long.

Brushing and mouthwash twice a day (but prioritise evening if he'll only do once a day) is good. I suspect the worst examples you see online are people who don't brush at all, not as uncommon as you'd think.

If he likes gadgets maybe look at a waterpik for him, it does the same as floss but will get at anything in the brackets too

Show quote history

OK hopefully he won't need them for very long.

Brushing and mouthwash twice a day (but prioritise evening if he'll only do once a day) is good. I suspect the worst examples you see online are people who don't brush at all, not as uncommon as you'd think.

If he likes gadgets maybe look at a waterpik for him, it does the same as floss but will get at anything in the brackets too

Toodles89 · 17/07/2025 21:23

Ds had them for 18 months, we were warned that the square marks you often see after removal cannot be changed and told to follow the rules.

He brushed twice a day, three times if it naturally fit in. Mouthwash and an interdental brush.

Fizzy drink only once a day. He hates water so got very dilute squash and drank through a straw.

Few sweets, crisps only once a day and mouthwash afterwards.

Honestly we weren't that strict and didn't fully follow the rules but his teeth were perfect.

Maybe some people are just more naturally prone, have weaker enamel or something.

Lollygaggle · 17/07/2025 21:40

Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 20:56

OK hopefully he won't need them for very long.

Brushing and mouthwash twice a day (but prioritise evening if he'll only do once a day) is good. I suspect the worst examples you see online are people who don't brush at all, not as uncommon as you'd think.

If he likes gadgets maybe look at a waterpik for him, it does the same as floss but will get at anything in the brackets too

Show quote history

Unless it is a fluoride mouthwash prescribed by dentist he should not be using a mouthwash at all as it interacts with toothpaste and washes fluoride away .

If he has been prescribed a mouthwash only use it 2 hours, at least , after brushing .

Waterpiks are not as good or thorough as the interdental brushes he will have been shown how to use . You cannot use floss with a fixed brace as it won’t get past the wires.

The yellow staining is probably the cement on the brackets stained from food etc.

The most important thing with braces is the frequency which food and drink containing sugar/starch is eaten and drunk. Meal times don’t matter it’s what is consumed inbetween meals and how often that matters.

Anxioustealady · 17/07/2025 21:46

Lollygaggle · 17/07/2025 21:40

Unless it is a fluoride mouthwash prescribed by dentist he should not be using a mouthwash at all as it interacts with toothpaste and washes fluoride away .

If he has been prescribed a mouthwash only use it 2 hours, at least , after brushing .

Waterpiks are not as good or thorough as the interdental brushes he will have been shown how to use . You cannot use floss with a fixed brace as it won’t get past the wires.

The yellow staining is probably the cement on the brackets stained from food etc.

The most important thing with braces is the frequency which food and drink containing sugar/starch is eaten and drunk. Meal times don’t matter it’s what is consumed inbetween meals and how often that matters.

Show quote history

I know you can't use floss with braces, that's why I said I used super floss which has a threader you can thread under each bracket. I could never use interdental brushes because my gaps were too small. Better if OPs son uses a waterpik than nothing if he won't floss or use interdental brushes.

I'm not an expert, just sharing what worked with OP for me as I had braces for a very long time and I managed to avoid any marks or stains.

Edit- sorry I don't know how I posted twice and replied to my own comment 😵‍💫

Dotto · 17/07/2025 21:53

EMS airflow hygienist appointment, for stain removal.

Original poster
Potatoesfried · 18/07/2025 05:29

Thanks all. It’s a specific mouthwash the dentist provides

I guess the worry is that he’s def not just eating at meal times. And there’s no way I can control what he eats outside of it

he brushes twice a day, without fail

OP posts:
Original poster
Potatoesfried · 18/07/2025 05:34

Lollygaggle · 17/07/2025 21:40

Unless it is a fluoride mouthwash prescribed by dentist he should not be using a mouthwash at all as it interacts with toothpaste and washes fluoride away .

If he has been prescribed a mouthwash only use it 2 hours, at least , after brushing .

Waterpiks are not as good or thorough as the interdental brushes he will have been shown how to use . You cannot use floss with a fixed brace as it won’t get past the wires.

The yellow staining is probably the cement on the brackets stained from food etc.

The most important thing with braces is the frequency which food and drink containing sugar/starch is eaten and drunk. Meal times don’t matter it’s what is consumed inbetween meals and how often that matters.

Show quote history

Should I be concerned that he’s going to end up with irreversible yellow marks unless he’s really strict?

it will bother him, I know

OP posts:
Lollygaggle · 18/07/2025 07:29

Yellow marks are probably the glue staining , which will go when the brackets go.

However if he is snacking/sipping on drinks ,inbetween meals , that are sugary or starchy then he will get decay around the brackets no matter how much he brushes or uses mouthwash . Even without braces it’s what you eat and drink inbetween meals that causes problems particularly sipping or grazing on sugared/starchy foods and drinks .

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