Many people believe having white teeth is a sign of good dental health. Therefore they go to considerable measures to keep them that way. This practice includes brushing your teeth daily, obtaining regular dental cleanings, and using teeth-whitening products. Sometimes, discolorations resembling White spots on teeth may form.
Some people are irritated by teeth that are a different shade of white than the rest of their teeth. It’s critical to figure out what’s generating white spots on a patient’s teeth.
White spots on your teeth are conceivable even if you clean and floss your teeth twice a day and visit the dentist regularly.
White spots can appear due to several factors, including poor dental care, acidic/sugary diets, tooth damage, and medications. It’s vital to understand what’s causing your white spots first if you want to avoid more significant oral health issues like decay and tooth loss.
White spots on teeth: Causes
A variety of factors can cause white spots on your teeth. Your dentist can determine the underlying cause of your problem and then recommend a treatment plan. Some of the most common are as follows:
Diet.
When a person consumes a high-sugar diet, acidic plaque, which erodes enamel, can form. Acidic foods and beverages include soda and citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruit.
Too many acidic foods can cause white spots on your teeth. This is because acidic foods erode your tooth enamel. With this outer layer, you can protect your teeth from harm.
Acid reflux, which causes the stomach, esophagus, and mouth to produce acid, is another trigger. When the enamel on your teeth deteriorates, you may experience other symptoms such as sensitivity to cold or hot foods and beverages.
Fluorosis.
Too much fluoride in growing teeth can cause decay and discoloration rather than strengthening and protecting them. This can happen if children consume excessive fluoridated liquids or toothpaste. As a result of fluoride, this causes pitted enamel, making it more difficult to wash and clean teeth.
Sleeping with your mouth open.
When you wake up in the morning, you might notice white spots on your teeth that go away after a few hours. A common cause of this is sleeping with your mouth open all night. Your teeth’ enamel dehydration causes the white patches you’ve noticed. As soon as saliva touches the teeth, the white spots will disappear.
Enamel hypoplasia is a condition.
Enamel deficiency means that a person has less of it than usual. Enamel hypoplasia can be caused by nutritional deficiencies that cause tooth mineral loss.
Celiac disease, in which the body’s immune system is compromised, is one of the culprits. If you take antibiotics to treat a fever, your ability to absorb nutrients may suffer. Smoking during pregnancy is an additional risk factor. Tooth sensitivity and grooves or lines in the teeth are also signs of enamel hypoplasia.
Plaque accumulation
White patches on the teeth can also be caused by bacterial plaque. Poor dental hygiene is to blame, such as failing to brush or floss regularly. This could also happen as a result of wearing braces.
The plaque has most likely built up behind or around the brackets if you had braces removed and have spots on your teeth. Poor oral hygiene or a lack of ability to effectively remove plaque between brackets cause tooth demineralization. Dentin on the tooth may appear rough or chipped.
Treatments.
There are numerous treatment options for white spots on teeth. These treatments may not be the best choice if an underlying condition causes the white spots.
Enamel microabrasion
Microabrasion may be an alternative for treating white spots in certain people. During this procedure, a small amount of enamel is removed from the teeth to reduce the visibility of the white spots. Teeth whitening is frequently recommended as a follow-up procedure to this expert therapy.
Bleaching or whitening of the teeth.
White spots and other stains on teeth may be less visible with teeth bleaching or whitening. Strips and paste are examples of over-the-counter teeth whitening products (OTC.) You can also purchase these goods online. If you have white spots on your teeth, a dentist who specializes in teeth whitening may be able to treat them. These techniques use stronger bleaching solutions than those available over-the-counter. Thus they may be more successful.
A dental veneer
Dentists utilize veneers to provide a thin coating of protection to the front surface of a patient’s teeth. They are excellent at concealing white spots and other flaws. Only dentists may supply dental veneers, which must be custom-made and fitted. As a result, they could be costly.
Fluoride.
A dentist may fluoridate the teeth of people who have enamel hypoplasia. As a result, it may aid in preventing tooth decay by stimulating the formation of enamel on the teeth.
Composites are made of resin.
Enamel hypoplasia patients’ teeth may be filled with composite resin and their enamel adhered to the surface. This may not be the greatest solution if you have a lot of white spots on your teeth.
Prevention Of White Spots On teeth
To avoid white spots on your teeth, you must practice good dental hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing are part of this. If possible, brush and rinse your mouth after each meal. Use an electric toothbrush with a plaque-fighting function, and floss every night. Plaque can accumulate around brace brackets and between teeth, so a Waterpik is an excellent tool for removing it.
Additionally, your dentist may recommend a toothpaste to remineralize enamel and keep teeth from turning yellow. Eating a low-sugar, low-acid diet can also help reduce the formation of white spots on the teeth. To help your child grow healthy teeth, you should stop smoking during pregnancy.
To avoid fluoride overexposure, keep an eye on your youngsters when they clean their teeth. Instead of slathering on too much toothpaste, they should use a pea-sized amount on the brush.
Teaching children not to swallow toothpaste while cleaning their teeth is a good idea. Keep an eye on your child’s fluoride consumption and, if necessary, lower the number of liquids they consume each day. It is usual to practice consuming fluoride-containing fruit juice, bottled water, or soft drinks.