When you chose to get clear aligners, their appearance was likely key to your decision. Near-invisible trays don’t draw as much attention as metal brackets and wires. That said, it can be shocking to see those same trays turn yellow, brown, or similarly dark colors. You needn’t worry much, though; your dentist knows how to fix this issue. Just keep reading to learn why your clear aligners are turning yellow, as well as how to remove their stains.
Context: How Clear Aligners Work
Before anything else, you’ll need to review the basics about clear aligners. Those details provide the context for why your trays have changed color.
Aligners don’t work exactly like metal braces, though they do straighten your smile. They’re designed to be removable and completely encase your top and bottom teeth. Given these traits, you have to take off your trays every time you eat, drink, and perform oral hygiene.
That clear trays are removable is a major perk of aligner treatment. After all, it keeps the teeth-straightening process from disrupting meals and oral care.
So, Why Do Aligners Turn Yellow?
The context above should help you see why aligners can turn yellow. In essence, trays sometimes stain and change color from food debris.
Since aligner trays cover your teeth entirely, they often trap “leftovers” on your enamel. This debris can then transfer from your smile to your aligners’ plastic material. As that process occurs, your trays’ tint may change from its previous clear color to a darker yellow.
What to Do About Yellow Aligners
If there’s any good news, it’s that you can both treat and prevent yellow trays. Simply remember to do the following things:
- Keep Your Smile Clean – If you want less plaque to reach your trays, please brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily. Your smile will then be free of stain-causing debris.
- Try to Avoid Stain Agents – Another idea is to limit your intake of dark-colored foods and drinks. (Examples include coffee, wine, tomato sauce, berries etc.) By doing so, you’ll expose your trays to fewer stain agents.
- Brush & Soak Your Trays – To keep stains from setting into your trays, clean them every day. You can do so by brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush, as well as by soaking them in a cleansing solution.
Clear aligners turning yellow isn’t ideal, but it isn’t “the end of the world” either. Just keep the facts above in mind, and you’ll be fine!
About the Practice
Roswell Modern Dentistry is based in Roswell, GA. Led by Drs. Kakadia and Kataria, our practice has been giving patients gorgeous grins for over 15 years now! We’ve remained committed to personalized dental care in that time, always tailoring results to suit your unique smile. That means you can trust us to deliver the help your teeth and gums truly need. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (770)-525-9140.
