When getting braces treatment, a mutual effort is needed from both you and the orthodontist to achieve the perfectly straight teeth that you want. While the orthodontist can help you maintain your braces functionally, you must pay attention to maintaining your oral hygiene and tackling other inevitable issues like teeth demineralisation.
Demineralisation of your teeth tends to occur around the brackets of your braces, which can lead to white spots. It’s commonly known as a white spot lesion (WSL), where acid attack leaves marks where the brackets used to be after your braces come off.
These white spots can be pretty apparent to others and can damage your smile since there is no way to remove them easily once they form and penetrate deeply. Thankfully, they are preventable with good oral hygiene. Preventive dental treatments can further ward them off.
Below, we share some of the steps you should take to prevent these spots from forming and what you can do if they do develop.
How to prevent braces WSL
White spots tend to develop on teeth when using braces, especially traditional ones like metal and ceramic ones, if your diet contains a lot of sugar. It develops right around the bracket area.
This is caused by bacterial plaque accumulating around the brackets’ edges converting dietary sugar to acid, giving rise to tooth demineralisation, an early stage of tooth decay.
Some orthodontists put special sealants on teeth before sticking in the brackets to protect the tooth enamel from issues like decay and better prevent white spots.
However, even if your orthodontist applies this special bracket adhesive or sealant, the best way to avoid white spots will still be regular brushing to keep plaque away from your teeth, and avoiding sugary foods. Avoidance of sugar can almost guarantee that you will avoid tooth decay.
When going through your daily oral hygiene routine, make sure to do the following:
1. Brush 2 to 3 times a day
When brushing your teeth, take care to do so thoroughly, with each session lasting at least three minutes. Make sure to brush around the brackets and the surrounding tooth surfaces.
Besides brushing the right way, getting the proper toothbrush is vital. Do try to get a toothbrush with soft-to-medium bristles.
Resilient and flexible bristles make it easier to clean areas that are harder to reach, including the tiny gaps between the brackets and the tooth surface.
After all, this is where plaque containing acid-generating bacteria tends to accumulate.
2. Do not forget to floss
Flossing is not something everyone likes to do, especially with braces, making the task even more challenging. However, although you may face more difficulty with braces on, flossing is not as difficult as you think with enough practice and the correct tools.
Thankfully, that will no longer be the case with the help of specialised flossing supplies like orthodontic flossers, water flossers, floss threaders and interdental cleaners.
3. Use a fluoride mouth rinse every day
Using mouthwash after brushing your teeth is an excellent measure to suppress the remaining bacteria in your mouth. However, explicitly using fluoride mouthrinse is far better at tackling WSL since it can further prevent tooth decalcification.
Apart from these tips, it is also recommended to visit your orthodontist in Singapore once every six months to get a professional dental exam and cleaning. On top of making sure that your braces treatment progresses as expected, they are also responsible for removing tartar from your teeth and checking your teeth for signs of cavities.
Restoring your teeth’s appearance when WSL occurs
If you have just got your braces removed and you observed noticeable white spots on your teeth, there are still options available that can improve the appearance of your smile. One of them is a teeth-whitening procedure. Teeth whitening can be done via in-office treatments or at home with take-home products.
However, unlike home treatments, in-office professional teeth whitening ensures you get your teeth white, while also helping to mask these white spots, in effect by making them blend with the surrounding tooth enamel.
If you deem that teeth whitening is insufficient to disguise the white spots on your teeth, you could also try dental bonding, which essentially covers the WSL-affected teeth with a layer of tooth-coloured resin.
Conclusion
There is no better way to get almost perfectly straight teeth you have always wanted besides braces treatment.
As a tried and tested method for effective straightening of teeth, getting ceramic or metal braces in Singapore is something that virtually all orthodontists recommend, no matter how old you may be.
However, it is essential to note that braces treatment requires a commitment to better oral hygiene since issues like WSL and other dental problems can arise without it