West Maitland Dentistry Blog

It’s that day! The day when you or your child get’s their braces off.  The excitement of straight teeth is quickly replaced by dismay as you see some white spots on the teeth.  If this has happened to you, you’re not alone!  White spots on teeth after braces is unfortunately a common problem.  Don’t worry though, we’re here to discuss what causes them and how to prevent and fix them.

What are white spots?

These noticeable discolored areas of the tooth are actually decalcifications.  This happens when the minerals that make up your teeth leach out, causing a white and chalky appearance.

What Causes Them?

There are several different reasons and ways teeth become demineralized.  Some common ones are:

• Start of a Cavity: If plaque stays on the tooth surface, the acid produced by bacteria living in the plaque starts demineralizing the tooth.  If the plaque is not removed it eventually will turn into a cavity.  This leads to the white spots to start turning yellow and brown.
• Braces: If you or your child cannot brush well around the braces again plaque accumulation start those white spots formations.
• As a child too much or little fluoride, high fevers or medications (such as certain antibiotics) can cause the enamel not to be formed properly.
• During pregnancy lack of vitamins, sickness and certain medications can the teeth that are forming in the baby to become discolored.

How to prevent them?

Removing and reducing plaque and acidic environments in the mouth aid to stop the beginning of these spots, especially when having orthodontic treatment.  This means brushing well with a fluoridated toothpaste as well as flossing regularly.  A mouth rinse with fluoride also aids in the prevention of these white spots.

For tips on how much fluoride to use on your child, check out the American Dental Association’s recommended guidelines.

Treatment Options

There are several treatment options that often can be non-invasive for these unsightly spots.  Some of these options are treating the teeth with fluoride to try to remineralize that soft tooth structure.  Another option can be using a resin infiltrate, similar to a filling material, to help rebuild the missing tooth structure.  If the white spots are severe, more invasive options may be necessary such as fillings or veneers.

Contact our office to request a consultation if you are dealing with white spots on your teeth!

I can’t believe it’s already our 2nd anniversary of opening my dental practice.  It has definitely
gone by in a whirlwind! Check out some things that have happened in the last two years.

When I started the practice I had just had our second daughter and now she’s turned into a
very opinionated toddler, while my older daughter went from preschool to being in
Kindergarten! Since then we’ve also survived  pseudo-hurricanes and a pandemic!

Our strive to make dentistry affordable has grown by opting to go in network with several
insurance providers to help lower the out of pocket costs for our patients.

In these past two years we’ve committed to helping and being present in our community. Some ways we
achieved this is with events such as hosting our Halloween Candy Buy Back or participating in
health fairs. Some of my favorite community events over the last two years were speaking
engagements. Whether it was at elementary, middle and high schools, with the Maitland
Chamber of Commerce or for local businesses, it’s been a pleasure to share my knowledge in
oral health with Maitland and the surrounding communities.

Every year it seems like our technology has grown with us as well. This year we decided to say
goodbye to the goop when we purchased a scanner for the mouth. Our new scanner allows us
to scan our patients mouths and make virtual, 3D models. We can use these models to track
any wear or gum loss. It also gives us the opportunity now to send our cases to laboratories in
a matter of minutes rather than being traditionally mailed. We can even show you simulations of
what your teeth would look like after corrected with Invisalign®!

To celebrate our 2nd anniversary of opening and as a token of my appreciation to all of our loyal and wonderful
patients, we are offering a free whitening kit when you refer a friend, family member or
coworker to the practice for the next month.

It’s really an honor to be part of the Maitland and surrounding areas and I look forward to
serving this community for many years to come!

As your child goes back to school, make sure there are no distractions this year, such as teeth!   Did you know that dental health could have a big impact in the classroom?  One study points out that unplanned dental care for children 5-17 equals 34 million school hours lost a year!  So now that we’re back to school, help prevent those lost school hours by introducing your child to the dentist if you haven’t already.  To help do so, here are some tips to make sure your child’s dental visit is a pleasant one!

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Role play: The week leading up to your child’s first visit have fun with them by pretending to be at the dentist.  You can act as the dentist and your child the patient.  Then have fun with it and switch the roles.  This gives your child a sense of control not to mention the giggles it creates!  Be sure to role play some common procedures your child will encounter.  Some things to act out are: taking x-rays, having a dental exam, cleaning the teeth, using suction, flossing and putting on fluoride.

Terminology: When you role play try using age appropriate words and descriptions.  Some ways we explain common procedures are:

• Taking x-rays: “taking pictures”
• Exam: “counting teeth”
• Explorer: “tooth counter”
• Cavities/bacteria: “sugar bugs”
• Polishing/Cleaning: “tickler or tickling toothbrush”
• Suction: “Mr. Thirsty or vacuum”
• Air/water: “squirt or water gun”
• Fluoride: “vitamins”

Read to them: Dental themed children books are great tools to prepare your child.  Reading these books ahead of their dental appointment can help them not only hear but also see what to expect. Two of my and my children’s favorites are The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain and Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer.

Make Sure They are Well Rested

If your child still naps, try not to schedule their dental visit around that time.  Tiredness and crankiness often go hand in hand!

Feed Them

A hungry child can be a crabby child.  Try to have your child eat 30 minutes to an hour before their appointment.  After a routine visit your child won’t be able to eat or drink for 30 minutes if fluoride is placed on their teeth.  If your child is having more complex dental work done that requires numbing, they may not be able to eat for a few hours!  Having your child fed can help ensure no growling tummies or tempers at their visit.

Check Your Anxiety at the Door

It’s not uncommon for adults to have a dental phobia.  Children can often pick up and sense the anxiety of a parent.  This may lead to their becoming apprehensive as well.  But the good news is that the reverse is also true!  Having an upbeat and excited attitude about your child’s dental appointment can rub off on them.  This can help make the visit a pleasant one for all!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Does your child have an older sibling that is used to visiting the dentist?  If so, have them observe their big sister or brother during a routine check up before their first visit.  Make sure to have a talk with the older sibling.  Have the sibling show enthusiasm and discuss how nothing hurt after the visit is over.

Keep Your Cool

If the dental office is a new environment for your child it can often be a scary one.  At the first appointment, your child is getting used to new sights, sounds and smells.  Meeting new people and often times people wearing a lot of funny things (gloves, masks, eyewear, gowns, etc) can be tough for anyone.  If your child doesn’t react well try to stay calm and let the dentist and team members take the lead.   Raising voices or threatening can often make an already stressful situation worse.  Remember that every child is different and we all have our bad days!  Sometimes it is in their best interest to reschedule at a different date and time. 

Prevention

Preventing cavities can lead children to have only routine visits making their trips to the dental office easy, peasy.  Check out my previous blog with tips on good oral hygiene for your kids.

Before your child heads back to school be sure to get their mouths examined. Remember regular dental visits can prevent missed school days. Make sure the only thing bothering them this year is homework and not their teeth.  To book their appointment contact us!