14.10.2025
White spots: the most common damage under a brace
Around a bracket, dental plaque sits in place longer than elsewhere. Where it remains, the enamel loses minerals and a chalky white spot develops – the early stage of tooth decay. It does not hurt and only becomes apparent when the appliance is removed.
This can be prevented with three simple things: fluoride toothpaste twice a day, a fluoride gel once a week and interdental brushes for the spaces between bracket and gums. An oral irrigator does not replace the brush, it complements it.
The second lever is diet: it is not the amount of sugar that decides, but how often a day it reaches the tooth. Sugary drinks spread out over the day are the worst case.
If oral hygiene keeps failing for months, removing the appliance early is the better decision than a finished result on damaged teeth.