White Spots?

[lyphta]

So I was looking at my teeth in the mirror and noticed that I have a bit of white spots on my teeth! I'm really worried because I'm not even that far into my treatment and I'm already getting white spots - which I have heard don't go away once they're on there... I don't want to have a bunch of white spots on my teeth when my brackets come off in 2 years time.

For some reason, some of these white spots can be scratched off a bit, though I doubt that is good for my teeth (I used the interdental brush to kind of scrape it off). It's kind of weird too, like some days I'll see the white spot, and then it'll disappear or be lighter (like the color of my teeth now) and then it'll come back. Is there a way to prevent this from getting any worse? I have been brushing after every meal, flossing once a day, and using mouthwash every day before I go to bed. When I go to my cleaning at the dentist next week, will they be able to clean it off?

I guess the "good" thing is that I have only noticed it on about 4 teeth, 3 of them have a really small spot that you won't notice unless you really look at it up close, and 1 of them has a bit of a line (and this is one of my front teeth so it's noticeable).

Any advice? Thanks!

[Chang Orthodontics]

What you are likely seeing is calculus (aka tartar) that is forming on your teeth and around your brackets. It sounds like you are committed to keeping your teeth clean and I would just recommend spending a bit more time cleaning around the areas that you have noticed the calculus forming. Your dentist should be able to take it off without too much difficulty.

The other "white spots" are early forms of cavities that form within the tooth itself and cannot be scraped off.

Best of luck with your treatment!

[IHIC]

What you are likely seeing is calculus (aka tartar) that is forming on your teeth and around your brackets. It sounds like you are committed to keeping your teeth clean and I would just recommend spending a bit more time cleaning around the areas that you have noticed the calculus forming. Your dentist should be able to take it off without too much difficulty.

The other "white spots" are early forms of cavities that form within the tooth itself and cannot be scraped off.

Best of luck with your treatment!

I thought white spots could also be due to decalcification?

If white spots are the starting of cavities, one of my molars will need ALOT of filling! (I already had a filling in this tooth a few years back). If those white spots are some form of cavities then I am surprised I haven't experienced any pain yet, as the white spots have been there for quite a few years now and my Dentist has never said it was a problem

I'll mention it to him during my next check up appointment in September.

[Sunny]

IHIC there's white spots and then there's white spots. The ones that can be scaped away are not the serious (permanent) ones, but instead they're a sign that this area needs a little more attention and is still healthy.

I have a 'white spot' in one of my upper front teeth and it's another type of white spot. I've been told it formed during the time these teeth were being formed and possibly due to me having high fevers. The rest of the tooth in that area looks a little translucent and this is like a white area within that. The tooth is healthy and has never had a cavity ... plus I've had this since that tooth came into place ... many, many years ago.

Always have these 'spots' checked by your dentist, but mostly it's something you can control by being careful with your oral hygiene.

[lyphta]

Thanks Dr. Chang and Sunny for the info.

I always thought that tartar was yellow or brown in color. It can come white as well?

I don't know if I mentioned it, but this white spot streak is on the front of my teeth not on the back. Which is why I'm worried. It almost looks like it's something stuck on my tooth - like it's "popping" up from my teeth though I'm not 100% certain - instead of my tooth becoming "discolored". Though I'm not 100% sure. When I use the interdental brush it doesn't really remove much of it. Only a tiny bit from what I've seen.
I hope that this "white spot" that I have is something that can be removed because even when I took more time to brush that tooth, it didn't really go away and my main concern is of course what will happen when my braces come off, I definitely want to have a nice uniform colored smile.

I know that I have some tartar which is located behind some of my teeth. But my dentist usually gets rid of that stuff when I go for a cleaning. I will definitely let my dentist know when I go in for my cleaning next week. I really just want it gone because it's starting to worry me.

Would you guys recommend using tartar/plaque control toothpaste or mouthwash to help prevent buildup? Because right now I'm using Sensodyne ProNamel (contains fluoride) and ACT AntiCavity Fluoride Rinse and both don't say they have tartar/plaque control (they only prevent cavities). Then again this is all marketing and advertising...

[Sunny]

Lyphta could this be a piece of bonding that wasn't removed by the ortho when your brackets were bonded to your teeth?

You may be able to remove small amounts of it ... and/or ... after brushing it may appear cleaner and therefore less visable.

We recommend our patients use a toothpaste and mouthrinse that contains fluoride. I use sensodyne whitening toothpaste and an oral b mouthrinse. My favourite toothpaste is colgate with baking powder and peroxide. Remember the most important thing after you rinse, is not to put anything else in your mouth for at least 30 minutes so that the ingredients in the mouthrinse can do there work. Toothpaste is in contact with the teeth for a very short time, so there's not a huge lot it can do.

Check with your dentist when you have your clean, as this is the best person to advise you re things like this.

[josie]

Lyphta, I'd be really interested to hear what your dentist says when you go in for your cleaning, so do post back. I say this because I've had braces for a similar amount of time to you, and I too have noticed what you seem to be describing. I first noticed it on the side of one molar, which puzzled me because it was an area that I do clean regularly - it is very exposed to the toothbrush there! I then noticed what I think was the same thing between my bottom front teeth - a line of it, following the edge of the tooth. I have been flossing and brushing and following all instructions from my dentist, so I was a bit alarmed to see this.

I don't know if I'd recommend you do this, but I got a pin and I scratched it away. I came off v easily. The spot on the side of the molar was almost chalky in consistency, once I had scratched it off. The substance between the front teeth was much softer and more like regular plaque. It hadn't come off with brushing and, although flossing removed some of it, it was hard to floss the edges of the tooth with the wire in the way - I could easily floss the gumline, but if you move the floss up to floss the sides of the tooth, it can't move there because the wire is in the way. Anyway, I cleaned the teeth with the pin and I can't see any of it any more. I will ask my ortho at my first adjustment in 2 weeks time.

HTH

[lyphta]

I'll definitely let you know josie. My appointment for cleaning is on Sept 2, so I'll report back then.

Sunny, maybe it is a piece of bonding. I'm not quite sure cause this tooth was actually behind my other teeth (crossbite) so it's kind of harder to clean and see what exactly is on it. But I did try to scrape it off and it definitely is something attached on top of it since it's not smooth.
And thank you for your suggestions on toothpaste and mouthwash. Glad I'm doing the right thing since both contain fluoride!

[lyphta]

So update! I just got back from the dental office and I asked them what the white spot was. One of my dentists said that it was the bonding glue from my bracket! She removed a bit of it but she didn't want to remove all of it because it could make the bracket fall off and she didn't want to risk that happening. I'm just glad that it wasn't a white stain, definitely a sigh of relief

[Sunny]

Fantastic lyphta ... this is what often happens after brackets are bonded. Some ortho's remove all the excess bonding, while other's leave some there to help seal or ensure the bracket stays in the place required.

A great answer to your problem!

[josie]

Great - hope my ortho's answer is similar - another 2 wks before my appointment...

[lyphta]

Oh really Sunny? Some orthos leave it on there? Never knew that. There's always new things to learn every day
And thank you! I'm very pleased to know too that it wasn't something uncontrollable.

Josie, I hope you receive the same good news that I did as well!