I know some kids never get cavities and their parents never did varnish... but then again, I’d feel awful if he needed a filling and I could’ve prevented it.
I totally get this. My parents never did varnish for me and I was fine until braces—then suddenly, cavities! Makes me wonder if it’s just luck or if the varnish would’ve helped. Anyone else notice more issues after orthodontics?
Makes me wonder if it’s just luck or if the varnish would’ve helped.
There’s definitely a connection between braces and increased risk for cavities—those brackets trap food like crazy. I’ve seen a lot of cases where kids with good habits still develop spots after ortho. Did your orthodontist ever suggest extra fluoride or special rinses? Sometimes that makes a difference, but it’s not foolproof.
Fluoride varnish made a huge difference for me, honestly. I had braces as a teen and even though I brushed like crazy, I still got some white spots. My younger sibling had varnish applied regularly during her ortho treatment and her teeth looked way better after. It’s not a magic fix, but I’d say it helps more than luck. The extra rinses were annoying, but totally worth it in the end.
I always wondered if the varnish was really that big of a deal, especially since my dentist never pushed it when I had braces. I just stuck to brushing and flossing, and yeah, I got a couple white spots but nothing wild. Honestly, the idea of extra rinses and that sticky feeling kinda put me off. Maybe my teeth are just stubborn, or maybe I just got lucky? Either way, I guess it depends on how much hassle you’re willing to put up with for possibly better results.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually had the opposite experience. My dentist was big on the varnish when I had braces, and honestly, I’m glad they were. I brushed and flossed religiously, but still ended up with a couple of those chalky spots—probably would’ve been worse without the extra fluoride. The sticky feeling was annoying for a few hours, but it faded quick. Ever wonder if your white spots might’ve been less noticeable with it? It’s not a miracle fix, but for my younger cousin with weak enamel, it really made a difference.
