White spots on your teeth could mean there’s something not quite right with your smile. These spots can appear due to dental fluorosis, which happens when you consume too much fluoride during the development of your teeth. Another cause could be poor oral hygiene, where plaque buildup weakens the tooth enamel and creates white spots.
A concern many people in Palmetto Bay have about orthodontic care is developing white spots by the end of their treatment. Since braces cover most of the surface of your teeth, we understand the concern. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you if you’ll have white spots. The truth is that they’re a potential consequence of having braces. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your risk of developing them. Below are our Smiles of Palmetto Bay orthodontists’ tips on how to prevent white spots!
Consistent Oral Hygiene
You probably already know that maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine is the best way to ensure your teeth’s health. However, it’s also the best way to prevent white spots!
Brushing and flossing twice daily removes bacteria and plaque from your braces, teeth, and gums that could erode your enamel. Weakened enamel makes your teeth vulnerable to decalcification, an often permanent type of white spot, tooth decay, and gum disease, which can cause temporary and permanent discoloration.
Drs. Greg Ross, Jorman Garcia, and Cassandra Iglesias recommend investing in a water flosser or interproximal brushes to keep your mouth clean and free of white spots. These tools make it easier to thoroughly clean plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums, reducing the possibility of tooth discoloration.
Water flossers use water to rid the mouth of stubborn bacteria, plaque, and food particles. The water can clean all the hard-to-reach places of the mouth, making your routine faster, more effective, and less frustrating.
Interproximal or interdental brushes are small, radial brushes that can fit behind fixed appliance wires and between your teeth. It’s a great tool on the go or at home to clean all the nooks and crannies of your mouth.
Both water flossers and interproximal brushes are fantastic additions to brushing and traditional thread flossing.
Follow Dietary Guidelines
It can feel challenging, but modifying your diet is crucial to maintain the excellent health of your braces and teeth to prevent white spots! Whether you have fixed braces or clear aligners, frequent acidic and sugary food consumption can break down your enamel and lead to white spots.
If you have fixed braces, non-approved foods can quickly get stuck and make them difficult to clean, increasing your chances of developing discoloration. Ask your orthodontist for specifics on what you should and shouldn’t eat.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride is a natural substance in your body that helps strengthen your enamel. Strong enamel can reduce your risk of white spots by protecting your teeth from threats that cause them! We suggest using mouthwash with fluoride or fluoride toothpaste to increase your resistance to decalcification and white spots.
Don’t Use Store-Bought Whitening Products
Everyone loves a bright smile, and social media’s growth and push for veneers have only prolonged the trend. We completely understand why you would want them—they’re very pretty! However, if you have braces, we must stress the importance of waiting until your treatment has finished before using any whitening product or treatment because it can create discoloration.
This is because your fixed braces cover a significant portion of your teeth with an airtight seal. Therefore, the whitening agent won’t reach the entire surface of your teeth. When your braces come off, your teeth will be at least two colors! Returning your teeth to all one color can be expensive, challenging, and time-consuming, so we suggest holding off on whitening treatments until your orthodontist says it’s okay.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Regular dental cleanings are essential to your oral health and smile appearance before, during, and after treatment! Attending these appointments as frequently as your dentist recommends allows your oral healthcare provider to find and treat issues before they can cause white spots or more severe damage to your teeth and gums.
Professional teeth cleanings also remove bacteria and plaque that inevitably build up, regardless of your at-home regimen. Whether you have removable or fixed braces, you should make it a habit to see your dentist.
Straighten Your Smile With Smiles of Palmetto Bay
There are many causes and reasons for white spots, but the most effective way to prevent them during orthodontic care is to visit Smiles of Palmetto Bay and your general dentist regularly. Dr. Ross, Dr. Garcia, and Dr. Iglesias will give you personalized guidelines to help you make the most of your orthodontic treatment.
Schedule an appointment or free consultation at our Palmetto Bay office and learn more about preventing white spots during orthodontic treatment.