High Fluoride Toothpaste Could Help Prevent White Spots For Teen Brace Wearers
A study has suggested that high fluoride toothpaste can help to prevent white spots from developing on the teeth during orthodontic treatment.
The Swedish study, which was carried out at Malmo University, claims that using fluoride toothpaste, which contains four times the normal amount of fluoride found in toothpaste, can help to prevent the white spots that develop on the teeth in many patients who have worn braces.
Previous studies show that around 85 per cent of people who have braces develop the white lesions, which are a result of localised tooth decay.
Researchers discovered that using the high fluoride toothpaste helped to prevent around a third of white lesions in participants aged between 11 and 16 years old.
Lead author of the study, Mikael Sonesson, said that there many products available on the market, which claim to reduce white spots, but none have been proven to be effective.
Researchers recruited volunteers from five dental practices back in 2008 and invited more than 400 people who were due to start wearing braces around this time to take part in the study; half of the group was given the high fluoride paste to use at home, while the other half was given toothpaste containing the regular level of fluoride. Prior to treatment, all the patients had photographs of their teeth taken and images were captured again once treatment had been completed. The average treatment time was 1 year, 8 months and all patients received the relevant paste for the duration of their treatment.
The findings of the study revealed that around 45 per cent of those using the regular toothpaste developed white spots, in comparison to 34.6 per cent of those who used the high fluoride paste.
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