The main thing to understand about white marks on the teeth is that they are preventable. To remain white mark-free, you need to keep your teeth clean while avoiding certain foods and beverages.
What Steps Should I Take to Prevent White Marks?
There are four simple steps you will need to take to keep your teeth free of white marks:
- Brush- Be sure to brush your teeth as often as recommended by your orthodontist. Brush after each meal and snack.
- Floss- It is recommended that you floss your teeth at least once a day.
- Avoid/Limit Acidity- It’s important to avoid or limit your consumption of acidic food and drinks such as sweet tea, soda, sports drinks, etc.
- Attend Regular Checkups- You should see your dentist every four to six months or more if your orthodontist recommends.
During your orthodontic treatment, you may also consider using tools such as a floss threader, water irrigators, and power toothbrushes to make it easy, effective, and convenient to keep your teeth clean.
Are White Marks Permanent?
A white mark on your tooth is known as decalcification and is the very beginning of a cavity due to the build-up of plaque, calcium, and other minerals in your teeth with leach out tooth enamel, which leaves behind a permanent white mark. If plaque continues to collect, it can lead to a cavity.
Plaque is made up of food particles, saliva, and bacteria, feeding on sugars to form acid, which leads to tooth damage. Lack of proper oral hygiene and the consumption of sugary and acidic foods and beverages can cause white marks and tooth decay.
Can I Experience Decalcification with Aligners?
While decalcification can happen separately from orthodontic treatment, there are steps to take if you are wearing aligners to prevent white marks.
If you drink sparkling water, flavored water, soda pop, or sports drinks while wearing your aligner, you can experience decalcification within a few weeks. It is crucial that you remove your aligners before you eat or drink, unless you are drinking plain water, and cleaning your teeth thoroughly before placing the aligners back in.
You also need to be sure to brush your aligners and keep them clean to prevent decalcification.
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
At King Orthodontics, we recommend that you keep your teeth clean and limit the sugary and acidic foods to help prevent white marks from forming.
Contact us today to schedule your next exam.
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