My Clear Aligners Are Turning Yellow: What Should I Do?

Invisalign has taken the world of modern dentistry by storm! These awesome aligners can effectively straighten teeth more quickly and conveniently than traditional braces, and better yet, they’re virtually undetectable while they’re being worn! However, this doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily stay that way—if you aren’t diligent about keeping your smile clean, your aligners might become stained. Here’s more about why this sometimes happens and what you can do to prevent it from worsening.

What Causes Clear Aligners to Become Stained?

As the name suggests, Invisalign aligners are made from a special, clear plastic that’s almost completely transparent. This is perhaps the biggest draw for the treatment; whereas braces are quite noticeable and cumbersome to wear, Invisalign is comfortable, convenient, and practically invisible!

However, clear aligners can only stay clear if they’re kept clean—and there are many things out there capable of staining your trays and in turn, diminishing your smile’s beauty! Certain foods, such as dark-colored berries or sugary chocolates can lead to staining, as can dark beverages like coffee, tea, wine, and soda.

But even though you’re supposed to take your aligners out to eat, this doesn’t mean they’re completely incapable of becoming tarnished due to other reasons. Since your aligners fit your teeth very tightly, any leftover particles or debris that remain after eating (or even brushing) can become trapped against your teeth, where they can stain both your pearly whites and aligners alike. Other internal forces from inside your mouth can also lead to staining: saliva, which contains mucus and enzymes, plaque, and bacteria are all natural staining agents that can contribute to discoloration.

Tips for Keeping Your Aligners Sparkling Clean & Clear

Unfortunately, if your aligners have become greatly stained, it isn’t something that can simply be reversed; while good oral hygiene can prevent staining from worsening, it’s not able to effectively remove plaque that’s hardened into tartar. Since you will eventually swap to a new set of trays and move on from the current, tarnished set, it’s in your best interest to practice good habits moving forward so that the staining doesn’t continue to occur.

Be sure that you’re brushing your teeth after every meal, so that you’re reducing the number of debris and food particles that remain lingering on your teeth. This will prevent your aligners from trapping them against your teeth. Drinking plenty of water in favor of sugary or darkly colored beverages can also make a huge difference. Finally, certain products such as WhiteFoam contain agents that are designed to clean aligners and remove colored molecules, which will keep your trays looking noticeably clearer.

Many patients prefer Invisalign since it allows their smile to continue shining brightly as it’s being shifted and straightened. However, since the aligners are still susceptible to staining, a little extra care needs to be taken to ensure that they’re not doing your self-esteem more harm than good!

About the Practice

West Hartford Dental Group is honored to serve the dental needs of patients and families in the West Hartford community. The practice is led by Dr. Ukti G. Phadnis, who received her dental doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and is a proud member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association. If you have any questions about Invisalign or would like to arrange a visit, feel free to contact Dr. Phadnis through her practice’s website or by phone: (860) 236-4249.