If you’ve had braces or known someone with braces, you may be aware that white spots can appear on top of enamel after treatment. This demineralization is caused by plaque buildup that appears underneath orthodontic hardware, mainly because cleaning these areas is very difficult. As a result, many white cavities can appear and negatively impact your smile’s appearance.
But there are solutions for this problem after the braces come off. To learn more about white spot braces treatment in Washington and what solutions may be right for you, keep reading!
How Saliva Plays a Role
Saliva is a very important part of maintaining healthy tooth enamel. When you eat foods containing calcium, phosphate and fluoride, saliva can use these essential materials to begin the remineralization process. As saliva comes into contact with teeth, it acts as a natural buffer to neutralize acid and repair damaged enamel. It’s the very reason why dentist emphasize the importance of keeping saliva production and oral pH balance high, as well as maintaining a diet of foods with high amounts of water content.
If you suffer from dry mouth, either due to medications or because you have a diet high in sugar and starch, this should be the first thing on your list to correct. You may also want to include a fluoridated mouth rinse that provides additional protection and kickstarts the remineralization process. Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet, but avoid citrus fruits which only lower your mouth’s pH balance. Purchase a sugar-free gum to chew after meals and occasionally throughout the day as needed.
Fluoride Treatments
If you intend on seeking treatment from a dentist, they’ll likely recommend low concentrations of fluoride. This is known as fluoride therapy and is typically done to prevent cavities in the future. However, it can also be performed to fade spots created after orthodontic treatment. Only low concentrations should be used when treating white spots as high concentrations can easily stain your teeth further.
Restorative Dentistry
In the event that your stains are more severe and fluoride therapy proves to be ineffective, additional dental treatments may be needed. This may include restorative dentistry, such as tooth-colored fillings or crowns to cover damaged teeth. Fillings don’t require extensive drilling or anesthesia to place, however they can remove some tooth structure in the process. This can lead to increase tooth sensitivity.
Once the filling is shaped and bonded to your tooth, it will look natural and your stains will be completely hidden without losing any of its durability. Regardless of the treatment you choose, it’s important that you seek treatment quickly before the stains have a chance to worsen. Start your new habits promptly as well as this will only help the remineralization process.
White spot treatments can be performed by a local dentist in Washington, so don’t hesitate to fix your smile’s imperfections. Schedule an appointment to get started!
About the Author
Dr. Edward J. Roman earned his DDS degree from Temple University. When you visit his practice, he’ll do everything he can to remove white spots from your smile, whether it’s through fluoride treatments, restorations, or a combination of the two. He can also give you the most effective advice on at-home care to promote remineralization and strengthen of enamel. To schedule an appointment, you can contact his office through his website.