How to Get Rid of Decalcification Spots on Teeth

You just got braces removed and have white decalcification spots on your teeth. Maybe they appeared years ago and you never knew how to remove them. Whatever the case you want to know how to remove these spots.

Here is a list of ways you can remove white decalcification spots on your teeth. We will also discuss why you have them and how to prevent them in the future.

Can You Remove Decalcification Spots?

It’s possible some of the time. If it’s caught very early on and your teeth begin to remineralize they can go away. Once they become established most will require a trip to the dentist. According to a systematic review in Clinical Oral Investigations from 2021 using resin infiltration can help camouflage white spots more than your teeth remineralizing on their own or applying fluoride varnish.

Here are the options, from gentlest to most involved:

1. Fluoride and better hygiene, to stop the spots from growing and help them remineralize
2. Professional remineralizing treatments
3. Microabrasion, which removes a very thin surface layer
4. Resin infiltration, which fills the porous enamel and hides the spot
5. Veneers, for stubborn cases

Next, let’s look at what these spots are.

What Are Decalcification Spots?

Decalcification is when teeth lose minerals. It is described on the Clinical Oral Investigations website as white opaque and chalky areas. Hence why your dentist will refer to them as white spot lesions. Bacteria in plaque produce acid which dissolves minerals from your teeth. According to Colgate these white marks can be considered cavities in their earliest stages and can be prevented from getting worse if you act quickly. The NHS information leaflet for North Cumbria Integrated Care states that white marks are the beginning stage of a cavity.

Having braces can cause white spot lesions. As mentioned above there will be plaque around your brackets and you may notice white spots after you have your braces off. White spots can also develop while you have braces. Many people don’t even know they have white spots until their braces are taken off. Having too many fizzy/acidic drinks and not cleaning properly can cause white spot lesions as well.

Decalcification vs. Other White Spots

Not every white spot comes from decalcification. Colgate lists three common causes, and MedicineNet adds a fourth:

• Demineralization (decalcification): Mineral loss from plaque acid. Often appears around braces or near the gum line.
• Fluorosis: Too much fluoride while teeth form in childhood. Colgate says it can look chalky white, yellow, or brown.
• Enamel hypoplasia: Thinner enamel than normal, which can look similar to fluorosis, says MedicineNet.
• Dehydration marks: MedicineNet says dried-out enamel can look white, and the spots vanish once saliva rehydrates the tooth.

The cause decides the treatment. Only a dentist can tell them apart, so get an exam before you try anything.

How to Get Rid of Decalcification Spots on Teeth: 7 Options

Work through these in order. The first four are low-risk. The last three need a dentist.

1. Remove the cause first: Spots keep growing while plaque and acid keep attacking enamel. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth, and cut back on fizzy and acidic drinks. A Dorset County Hospital NHS leaflet says to wait at least 20 minutes after a fizzy drink before brushing.
2. Use fluoride at home: An NHS leaflet from North Cumbria Integrated Care suggests a fluoride mouthwash once a day, at a different time from brushing. The Clinical Oral Investigations review says fluoride products can improve remineralization. But it adds that the cosmetic appearance usually does not improve enough on its own.
3. Ask about professional remineralizing treatment: The review lists fluoride-containing agents, CPP-ACP pastes, and bioactive glasses as options that have been shown to enhance remineralization. Cleveland Clinic lists fluoride varnish as a professional treatment for weakened enamel. These steps help strengthen enamel and may soften the look of mild spots.
4. Give it time after the braces come off: The review says white spot lesions remineralize once brackets are removed. Some fade partly. Ask your orthodontist how long to wait before trying more.
5. Consider microabrasion: The review calls microabrasion a treatment option most suitable for very superficial lesions. The dentist gently removes a thin layer of enamel from the surface. It will not suit deeper spots.
6. Consider resin infiltration: This is the leading cosmetic fix for post-braces spots. The review found its masking effect clearly higher than natural remineralization or fluoride varnish. We cover it in detail below.
7. Consider veneers for stubborn spots: Gentle Dental, part of InterDent, lists veneers as an option for white spots that do not respond to conservative treatment. Veneers permanently change the tooth, so most dentists try gentler options first.

Resin Infiltration: What to Expect

Resin infiltration helps fill in the micro pores in the lesion. According to Orthodontic Products, a trade magazine for orthodontists. They remove a small amount of top enamel that surrounds the majority of spots. Then place a very thin layer of resin over the porous area. Once the resin sits for around 3 minutes they will wipe away the excess and cure each lesion for 40 seconds. They then place another layer of resin. They state this can be performed in one visit. One clinic in Singapore states there is usually no drill required and may not need anaesthesia.

Research? One study from JADA mentioned on DrBicuspid stated resin infiltration was able to improve the appearance of the lesion and remained after 8 weeks. Patients rated their tooth with the lesion at an average of 67.7 while control teeth were rated at 5.2. That article also mentions there were few RCTs available at the time. Resin infiltration has been found to be a good alternative to cover white spot lesions and fluorosis. In a systematic review done in 2021. 

Just keep in mind it will only cover your lesion. Its not going to fix years of bad plaque habits. If you get more plaque in that area more lesions can occur.

Habits That Help (and What to Skip)

Home care will not erase an established spot, but it protects every tooth you have:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean every surface
• Clean between your teeth and around brackets daily. The NHS leaflet suggests interdental or single-tufted brushes.
• Use a fluoride mouthwash once a day, at a different time from brushing
• Stick to water or plain milk between meals, as the NHS leaflet advises
• Skip whitening until a dentist examines the spots. Acibadem, a hospital group, says whitening often makes white spots look worse for the first few days because bleaching dries porous enamel.

How to Prevent Decalcification Spots With Braces

Prevention is easier than repair. If you wear braces:

1. Brush after meals: Colgate says braces wearers should brush and floss around wires and brackets regularly to reduce the risk of white marks.
2. Add fluoride: Use fluoride toothpaste and a daily fluoride rinse.
3. Watch your drinks: Limit fizzy and acidic drinks.
4. Report white marks early: The NHS leaflet says a white mark is the first sign of decay. Tell your orthodontist the moment you see one.
5. Keep your check-ups: The NHS says to keep seeing your dentist while your brace is on.

Orthodontics with custom braces and aligners as well as Invisalign clear aligners are offered by Rudra Dental Smilelature in Salem. Routine dental exams and dental work for children is also provided. Children make up many of our orthodontia patients. You should always ask your provider how they will maintain your teeth while you have them on.

When to See a Dentist

Book an exam if:

• You notice new white spots, especially around brackets or near the gum line
• Existing spots grow or spread
• Spots do not improve after braces come off
• The tooth becomes sensitive to cold or sweets
• You are not sure whether the spots are decalcification, fluorosis, or something else

According to Colgate these are considered cavities that have not fully formed. You want to catch these early and start repairing the lost minerals. Your dentist will be able to examine the white spot and let you know what’s causing it and give you a solution.

On Rudra Dental Smilelatures website they mention regular checkups so you can always ask your dentist what they offer to fix white spots. They may or may not offer all of these treatments.

Wrap-Up

Always try to stop the source first. Use a tooth paste with fluoride and scrub all of your teeth. You can also use fluoride mouthwash. Limit consumption of soda. Allow small white spots to heal once you get your braces off. If they don’t go away make an appointment for an evaluation of your options (microabrasion, infiltrate resin etc).

We here at Rudra Dental Smilelature in Salem can evaluate your teeth and inform you of your options. Any dental provider can help you with this as well. There are many ways to fix white spots. It just takes action.

FAQs 

Can decalcification spots go away on their own?

Sometimes. A 2021 systematic review says white spot lesions remineralize once braces come off, but the appearance often does not improve enough. Fluoride helps. If spots persist, a dentist can discuss microabrasion or resin infiltration.

Can toothpaste remove white spots?

Toothpaste cannot erase established spots. Fluoride toothpaste helps remineralize enamel and stops spots from growing, but the review says fluoride alone usually does not improve looks enough. Use it daily, and see a dentist for cosmetic treatment.

Does teeth whitening remove decalcification spots?

Not by itself. Acibadem says whitening often makes white spots look worse for the first few days. Bleaching whitens healthy enamel too, but the spots stay different. Ask your dentist about treating the spots first.

Is resin infiltration permanent?

It fills and masks the spot, and a JADA study found stable results at eight weeks. Long-term results depend on your cleaning habits and diet. Ask your dentist about follow-up studies and what to expect for your teeth.

Are white spots on teeth a cavity?

They are the early stage of decay, before a cavity forms. Colgate says they can be reversed if treated quickly. If the enamel breaks down into a hole, you need a filling. A dentist can tell which stage you have.