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

February 6, 2024

patient holding an ClearCorrect tray

ClearCorrect is a common method for straightening teeth without metal braces, using clear aligners that are almost invisible. While these custom aligners offer a comfortable and discreet way to enhance your smile, if you’ve seen them getting less clear or stained, it might affect your smile’s appearance. In this guide, we’ll explain why this occurs and offer easy tips to maintain your trays clean and clear for optimal results.

What Causes Clear Aligners to Become Stained?

To preserve the clear and inconspicuous look of your clear aligners, it’s essential to follow a thorough cleaning routine. Staining can occur due to factors like consuming highly pigmented foods and beverages such as berries, grape juice, pasta sauce, coffee, wine, tea, soy sauce, and soda.

To reduce staining, it’s important to take out your aligners whenever you eat or drink anything other than water. Despite removing them during meals, some staining may still occur. To prevent discoloration and keep your aligners in top condition, follow necessary precautions and recommended cleaning methods.

To avoid stains on your aligners, it’s crucial to clear away any food residue from your teeth before reinserting them. Neglecting this step might result in stains transferring to the aligners. By maintaining good oral hygiene and thoroughly brushing your teeth before reapplying the aligners, you can preserve their clarity and prevent discoloration.

3 Tips for Keeping Your Aligners Sparkling Clean & Clear

Unfortunately, once aligners have become significantly stained, reversing the discoloration is impossible. However, you can take proactive steps to prevent staining on your next set of trays. Here are some effective strategies to maintain your aligners’ clarity:

  • Use the right products – WhiteFoam is uniquely formulated to clean aligners, effectively preventing stains and preserving their clear appearance.
  • Drink plenty of water – Choose water over sugary or dark-colored beverages to keep your aligners clean and free from stains. Water doesn’t adhere to teeth or aligners, helping to wash away food particles and bacteria, which promotes better oral hygiene.
  • Practice good oral hygiene – To reduce the chance of transferring food or drink residue to your aligners, brush your teeth after every meal, as well as your regular morning and evening routines.

Incorporating these practical suggestions and selecting appropriate products will enable you to preserve the cleanliness, transparency, and stain-free appearance of your ClearCorrect trays effectively. By consistently implementing these practices, you can ensure that your aligners remain in excellent condition throughout your treatment journey!

About the Practice

At Tylan Creek Family Dentistry, we provide patients with compassionate and effective dental care to maintain their smiles’ health and radiance. Our range of services includes ClearCorrect treatments, which address misaligned or gapped teeth, along with invaluable guidance on preventing aligner discoloration. With our help, your smile can stay clean and clear throughout the treatment process. To schedule an appointment with Tylan Creek Family Dentistry or to explore clear aligners for achieving a straighter smile, contact our Greenwood office at (864) 407-4455, our Simpsonville office at (864) 962-6671, our Powdersville office at (864) 603-2200, or visit our website.