White Spots On Teeth After Braces, How To Get Rid Of Them?

Congratulations on getting your braces off!

You put in your time, spent your money and now they are finally off. You waited for this day to come and now that they are off something just doesn't look right. You can still see where the brackets were. There are white spots around where the brackets were, and maybe even at the gum line. After all this time and effort you were hoping your teeth would look perfect.

What do you do now? 

First, you should make an appointment for a dental checkup. Once the braces are off it is important to be sure that there are not any cavities and to have those white spots evaluated. Do not whiten your teeth because this will not fix the problem. If you want to whiten you should do so later, after the treatment for white spots has been completed.

Once you have been evaluated your dentist or hygienist will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for white spot reversal.

What causes these white spots?

When white spots develop on teeth during or after orthodontic treatment the most common cause incomplete plaque removal when the braces were on. When plaque is not completely removed from the teeth the bacteria within it releases acid which softens the teeth. These soft areas can either continue to soften and become cavities or if fluoride is applied the surface of the enamel can harden again. This leaves a white "scar" on the tooth where a softer layer remains under a hard surface layer of enamel. This is the white spot that you see after the braces are removed. The area is not a cavity. It is strong and hard, but not as attractive as the surrounding enamel.

How to get rid of these white spots on teeth?

To get rid of these white spots the minerals that have been lost must be replaced. The difficulty with this is that hardened layer of enamel that formed when fluoride was used. The fluoride was important at the time because it prevented a cavity from forming, but if you want to get those minerals back into the enamel you have to get through this tough outer layer. This can be accomplished at the dental office. Your dentist or hygienist can apply a special acidic gel and polish the area with a gritty pumice paste to open the pores in the enamel to allow the needed minerals to penetrate into the tooth. This is not something that can be done at home.

The next step is the addition of the needed minerals. A product called MI Paste is used for this. While in the dental chair the MI Paste will be polished into the tooth surface and then custom trays will be worn at home with MI Paste in them two or more times a day. The procedure in the dental office with the acidic gel and pumice paste may need to be repeated several times until the desired result is reached. The end result will be strong enamel that looks like the surrounding areas, with no white spots.

This procedure is cosmetic in nature. The resulting unblemished enamel is strong and matches the enamel of the rest of the tooth. Whitening can be done at this point with beautiful results.

Is it worth it?

This is a highly personal decision. If you look in the mirror and feel disappointed, or do not feel comfortable smiling it is a good choice for you. The white spots will not go away on their own. Ask yourself if these spots are affecting your self-esteem or confidence. If the answer is yes call dentists in your area and ask if they do white spot reversal therapy with MI Paste.


Author: Lori C. Herbert

Lori C. Herbert is a dental hygienist with a BS in psychology. She created http://www.helpmehygienist.com to educate patients on oral health and minimize the scare factor that often goes along with the dentist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lori_C_Herbert
 

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