“Are braces stains permanent?”

Staining caused by braces may be two types. One is simple staining caused by food and other oral causes which is easily removed by a thorough cleaning, and perhaps augmented by bleaching. the other "white" stains is due to a demineralization of the outer layer or enamel of the tooth. These white spots are more difficult to remove. they are usually not deep and sometimes your dentist can remove them with a more aggressive etching of the tooth. Bleaching can also help. Ultimately if it is too severe some sort of cosmetic bonding or veneers may be necessary depending on the patients preference

Staining around braces occurs due to demineralization of the teeth due to inadequate oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) during the braces treatment. There are many ways to remove the stains from bleaching to ICON therapy. Consult with your dentist to determine which route is the best for you.

Braces alone usually do not cause staining. The "demineralized" or weak spot areas around the brackets typically result from consuming acidic or sugary foods/drinks while braces are on or from plaque accumulation around braces (there are also other reasons that may be specific to your individual situation). After braces are taken off, the best ways to improve staining are to eliminate sugary/acidic drinks/foods from your diet to prevent the weak spots from getting worse, brushing at least 2x/day for 2 minutes a session and flossing every day. This will remove plaque all around your teeth and reduce the acid-producing bacteria from contacting your teeth for long periods of time. Your dentist may be able to prescribe you a special toothpaste to re-harden or "re-mineralize" those areas. After those weak spots are re-hardened, you can talk to your dentist about bleaching or different cosmetic dentistry procedures that may work for you. However, these should not be attempted until there is a change in diet/ hygiene and the weak-spots are re-hardened....otherwise the condition can be made worse.

Orthodontic bracket stains may or may not be permanent depending on the cause and how they developed.

Yours truly,

Dr. Claudia Camelia Cotca, DDS, MPH

Pretty much. They often require drilling out and replaced with composites.

Most braces (bracket) is metal and no stains. There are some non-metal brackets, which may stain. Your dentist/orthodontist will show you and explain the "advantages and disadvantages" of different brackets.

Wearing braces will not stain your teeth. If your oral hygiene is poor while you have braces on your teeth, the enamel may weaken and be more susceptible to staining or chipping away. So if your oral hygiene is excellent while you have braces you will have nothing to worry about with staining.

If by stain you mean tooth decay or decalcification then yes, but regular stain should come off