Question: I know that poor brushing while wearing braces can cause white spots around the braces. What causes the white spots to form? Are these cavities?
Answer: White spot lesions are not cavities. Poor brushing leads to plaque accumulation around the brackets. The most abundant accumulation is between the bracket and the gum tissue. The plaque contains bacteria that produce acid. A person's saliva normally neutralizes or buffers this acid. However, if there is more acid produced than the saliva can buffer, demineralization of enamel begins. If demineralization occurs for a long enough period of time then white spots appear. My office is one of a few orthodontic practices in the country that has an onsite dental hygiene department to attempt to minimize a patient's risk of getting white spot lesions and make it convenient for a patient to maintain great oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. Call 1-800-4-BRACES for a free consultation.
-Dr. David Herman, Four Corners Orthodontics & Dental
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