How To Prevent White Spot Lesions

As you may have discovered, braces can make it extra-challenging to keep your teeth really clean, because the brackets and wires may get in the way of your brush and floss. That’s why Appletree Orthodontics always stresses how important it is to make the extra effort. While you’re wearing braces, there are several things that can be done to prevent white spots. First, keep up a high level of oral hygiene. In addition to normal brushing and flossing, there are special brushes that can be used to clean around orthodontic brackets and wires, and floss threaders to help you work with dental floss. You can also try using a “water flosser” to flush material from between teeth and beneath the gums. This works by pulsating water at high pressure through a handheld device that looks something like a power toothbrush.

There are also some professional therapies that may help if you are at high risk for developing WSLs. These include at-home use of prescription fluoride toothpastes or rinses, or in-office application of fluoride gels, sealants or varnishes. While these methods can produce improvement, the effectiveness of particular treatments is still being studied.

There’s yet another way to keep white spots from forming, and even potentially reverse their damage: Keep the environment of your mouth healthy! It’s well known that acidic and/or sugary foods and beverages cause demineralization and erode tooth surface enamel. If you choose to consume these products at all, it’s essential to limit them to mealtimes and avoid between-meal snacking. That gives your saliva — nature’s own acid neutralizer — enough time to do its work. You can help here, too: Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water, and by avoiding tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. If your mouth does get dry, try mints that contain xylitol; these promote salivation, and can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.