question about decalification/acidic erosin/white spots

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#1 Post by **UGH!NOTAGAIN** » Wed May 19, 2010 3:18 pm

HI!
im just worried about white spots etc showing up on my teeth..
i was told not to drink very acidic drinks but i drink orange juice, milk, water. i dont know what other things to drink to replace my orange juice.
i want to know if i can tell automatically if im getting these spots or is it visible only after my braces come off?

what can i do to prevent these things??

help me! please
thanks

#2 Post by **Theresa48** » Wed May 19, 2010 6:29 pm

I think if you just rinse your mouth with a sip of water after OJ, you would be fine! I usually do that with almost anything these days, just keep a glass of water nearby...

#3 Post by **Vulcan** » Wed May 19, 2010 9:12 pm

If you keep good hygiene I don't think you should worry about decalcification marks. Be sure to clean thoroughly around the brackets and bands if you have them. If you are more prone to tooth decay.. and you know if you are (for example, many fillings) then take extra care.

#4 Post by **drrick** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:07 am

caused by plaque.
If you keep your teeth meticulously clean decalcification should not be an issue.

#5 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:09 am

I think you have to be pretty darn negligent in your oral hygiene to get white spots. I don't remember being told not to drink acidic drinks so have done so throughout the 2+ years of being braced and I have no white spots. If you are very concerned, Sensodyde has a new toothpaste out called ProNamel that supposedly protects against acid erosion.

#6 Post by **berry** » Thu May 20, 2010 10:04 am

I worry about this too, because I already have some small white marks on my teeth even though I brush them regularly. Since getting braces over a week ago I've been brushing 3-4 times a day, I just HOPE no marks end up on my teeth, I seem to get them really easily!

#7 Post by **tonyavicci** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:52 pm

i would definitely try drinking or swishing with water after drinking anything acidic. i'm addicted to pop, and will definitely drink and swish water after drinking just to get rid of acid. i've been advised by others who had braces to drink water after meals and any acidic drink to get rid of acid and prevent any spots.

#8 Post by **LC'sTeefs** » Fri May 21, 2010 3:11 am

found on the net.....
A number of factors can lead to the development of white spots on teeth. Sometimes these spots are caused by nutrition, genetics, or an excessive intake of fluoride, while other times they become evident after braces have been removed. Some children also develop white spots on their teeth as they are developing.

Usually white spots that appear on the teeth are actually areas of decalcified enamel and sometimes this problem can actually lead to the deterioration of teeth. Some dentists will tell you that the first evidence of tooth decay is a white spot lesion and by this description they mean that the tooth’s enamel has taken on an opaque color in the area where the cavity is beginning to form.

White spots on the teeth can appear after changes have occurred in the mineral content of a person’s teeth (which often happens childhood and leads to eventual deterioration of enamel if left untreated). White spots can also appear in connection with a condition called fluorosis, which is the result of having an excessive intake of fluoride. People who live in areas where drinking water contains a high fluoride level often encounter this problem.

White spot lesions are also commonly attributed to having braces. People with orthodontic braces often have trouble properly brushing their teeth and the result is a build-up of plaque. The acids in plaque can severely harm tooth enamel and eventually cause cavities. The first evidence of this type of tooth decay is the white decalcified enamel spot or lesion that becomes apparent when braces are removed.

White spots (or areas where enamel has become decalcified) can be extremely bothersome when braces are removed because usually the part of the tooth that has remained underneath the orthodontic bracket will remain protected from plaque, while bacteria continues to attack the area surrounding the brackets. This means that when braces are removed the teeth will appear stained by the brackets and small, square, discolored outlines will remain on teeth until they are treated.

Treatment options for white spots on teeth can include fluoride treatment, bonding and porcelain laminate placement depending on the severity of the problem.

Most people do not realize that sometimes having bright, white teeth isn’t necessarily a good thing. So, if you haven’t been brushing and flossing but you’ve noticed your teeth are getting whiter keep in mind you might be well on the way to decay.

#9 Post by **psych braces** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:08 am

I have two white spots. One the ortho pointed out before he bonded a brace. He said it was a crack (resembles more of a spot than an actual crack) and that he wanted to point it out so that when he eventually removed the brackets I would not think it was caused by the bracket (like the car inspection thats done before a rental). The other just occured yesterday during an extraction. One of my extracted teeth came out in pieces (I think because it had a previous root canal). I had three extractions done under local anestesia and could therefore sense the tugging. At one point the instrument slipped and smacked the adjacent tooth. That tooth now has a white spot (perhaps like the ortho described crack). Would this happen as if the tooth was injured (like a bruise) or is because the tooth was soft due to dental hygiene. I am a flossaholic so its not likely due to my dental hygiene but I do likely have a genetic predisposition to "soft teeth". Wondering if this will be a permanent white spot. Anybody had this happen?