Certainly, one of Invisalign’s main draws is that it’s supposed to be subtle and discrete. The treatment’s trays use transparent, near-invisible plastic that shouldn’t attract any attention. But what if your aligners are turning yellow instead of remaining clear? You don’t need to panic or worry over the situation; your Temple dentist is here to share clarifying details. To that end, read on to learn about the causes of yellow aligners and how to treat (and prevent) them.
Note How Aligners Work
If you want to grasp why you have yellow trays, you’ll need to review Invisalign’s basic details first. Your current discoloration won’t make sense otherwise.
While aligners do straighten teeth, they don’t work exactly like metal braces. They’re removable and completely encase your top and bottom teeth when worn. As such, you must take them off whenever you eat food, have drinks (except water), and clean your smile. Not doing so would damage your trays’ plastic material, making treatment failure more likely.
Invisalign’s removability can make trays tricky to “keep up” with, but it also makes treatment more convenient. You won’t have to worry about brackets and wires disrupting meals or oral hygiene.
What Makes Aligners Turn Yellow?
Having covered some context, you can better see what makes aligners turn yellow. They’ll often stain and change color due to food debris and bacteria.
Don’t forget: Invisalign trays cover all the surfaces of your teeth, from front to back. “Leftovers” and plaque on your enamel can easily transfer to your aligners’ plastic after enough time passes. As they do so, their own tints will eventually change the color of your trays. You’ll then end up with aligners that are fairly yellow instead of clear and invisible.
Worse yet, the yellow coloration won’t go away on its own. It’ll simply get worse unless you take direct and proper actions.
How to Treat & Prevent Yellow Trays
Given the facts above, you can take several steps to both treat and prevent yellow trays. The most notable ones are:
- Practice Better Oral Hygiene – If you brush twice daily and floss once daily, less plaque (and other debris) will transfer from your teeth to your trays.
- Avoid Stain Agents – To keep your trays from turning yellow (or yellower), limit your intake of dark-colored foods and drinks. Examples include coffee, wine, tomato sauce, berries, etc.
- Brush & Soak Your Trays – Cleaning your trays every day will keep stains from setting into them. So, please brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and soak them in a cleansing solution.
Even if your aligners are turning yellow, the situation isn’t dire. Just use the tips above and (as necessary) see your dental provider for help!
About the Author
Dr. Richard Fossum is a dentist based in Temple, TX, having earned his DDS from the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. Thanks to 30+ years in the field, he has great expertise in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative oral treatments, as well as dental emergency care. His office is also a certified provider of Invisalign aligners, which can quickly and easily align your crooked teeth. Today, Dr. Fossum practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (254)-778-3900.