I totally relate to the frustration with braces—same here, I got way more white spots after I had them and it felt like no matter how careful I was, stuff just got stuck. Did your insurance help with the prescription gel? Mine didn’t, so I hesitated to keep buying it. I kept thinking, is it really worth the cost if a couple spots still end up as fillings anyway? And yeah, my sister barely brushes and never gets cavities... makes me wonder if it’s just luck of the draw sometimes.
I kept thinking, is it really worth the cost if a couple spots still end up as fillings anyway?
That’s exactly what I keep coming back to. I used the prescription gel for a few months after my braces came off, but honestly, I couldn’t see much of a difference—maybe it slowed things down, but some spots still turned into cavities. My insurance didn’t cover it either, and at almost $30 a tube, it adds up pretty fast.
It makes me wonder if remineralizing products really work for everyone or if there’s just a point where you have to accept fillings are inevitable. Like you said about your sister—some people seem immune to cavities no matter what they do. Is it just genetics, or maybe something about their saliva or diet? Has anyone had luck with remineralizing actually reversing early decay, or does it just buy you time before you need a filling anyway? I keep reading about “arrested” lesions but never met anyone who actually avoided a filling that way.
Honestly, I’ve had spots labeled as “incipient lesions” for years and they haven’t turned into full cavities yet, but they never went away either. My dentist said remineralizing can halt progression if you catch it super early, but once there’s an actual cavity, it’s just a matter of time. Genetics definitely play a role—my brother eats way more sugar than me and somehow never gets cavities. Super frustrating.
That makes me nervous… I just found out I have a couple “early lesions” and my dentist said to wait and see if they remineralize. But what if they just sit there for years like yours? Does anyone regret not filling them sooner? I’m worried about missing my window.
That’s a really common worry, but early lesions can often remineralize if you’re on top of your hygiene and using fluoride. It’s not always easy to tell which ones will stay stable and which might progress, though. I’ve seen some patients who waited and never needed a filling, while others eventually did. Are you using any prescription toothpaste or just regular fluoride? Sometimes that makes a difference in how well things heal up.