DO YOU HAVE WHITE SPOTS ON YOUR TEETH?
Everyone wants white shiny teeth – but what if you notice white spots on your teeth? Those irregular milky opaque white patches appear on our teeth for a variety of reasons. Although not all of them are harmful to our oral health, they still prevent your smile from truly shining through.
These white patches can be both aesthetically troublesome and could signify dental problems.
Most people don’t pay too much attention to white spots, because unlike the brown spots; they are less noticeable and unattractive. However, like any other tooth discolouration, white spots can be a result of some oral problems that can warrant treatment.
A number of reasons can cause white spots.
#1: FLUOROSIS
One cause for those unsightly white spots is fluorosis, which is what happens to our adult teeth when we get too much fluoride before they finish developing under our gums. Fluorosis doesn’t damage the teeth, it just creates an uneven, sometimes spotty bleaching effect.
The best way to avoid it is to make sure your child isn’t using too much toothpaste when they’re under eight years old. You should only use a dab of toothpaste no larger than a smear or a grain of rice on babies and toddlers.
Beware there are many false facts out there about fluorosis! It is important to know the role of fluoride and how we can maximize it’s effectiveness without doing any harm.
# 2:YOUR DIET & DEMINERALIZATION
One of the most common reasons for white spots on the teeth that can’t be removed by teeth whitening systems is your diet. If you eat too many acidic foods, for example, it’s possible that the acid will break away your tooth enamel, and eats away the minerals of your enamel ( Demineralization process) making you more prone to developing white spots. Patients can also develop white spots if they eat a diet high in sugar, which can result in acidic plaque. Finally, if your diet is causing you to experience regular acid reflux, you may end up with white spots on your teeth, too. Those white spots can be early stage of tooth decay
#2: ENAMEL HYPOPLASIA
Having hypoplastic tooth enamel means having a thinner or less mineralized layer of enamel than usual. Usually this involves the tooth having pits in it. Because these pits are porous this leaves teeth vulnerable to stains and tooth decay. It can be caused in teeth by a variety of sources such as hypocalcemia, birth injury, fluorosis, infection, chicken pox that was undiagnosed and untreated. This type of discoloration is usually treated with bonding on the teeth until the person becomes an adult at which time dental veneers can become an option.
#4: BRACES AND DEMINERALIZATION
Having braces makes your teeth particularly vulnerable to decalcification. It takes more effort for patient who has ongoing orthodontic treatment to reach all those tiny crevices where plaque can build up, and any change in the color of your teeth won’t affect the patches beneath the brackets. With braces, therefore, it’s not only important to brush and floss thoroughly to keep plaque and tartar at bay. Braces take a little extra work to keep clean maybe 1 minute extra a day. Really it isn’t that much more work. kids with braces should have a fluoride rinse because they are going to get some acid attack on their teeth. Braces should only be done on people who are committed to doing what it takes to take care of their teeth with the braces on. It is ridiculous to have straight teeth that were damaged by the braces. It makes no sense.
# 5:YOU ARE SLEEPING WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN
Not only do you not want to drool on your pillow, but you also want to sleep with your mouth closed to prevent white spots from developing on your teeth, which can’t be treated with professional tooth whitening solutions. When you sleep with your mouth open, white spots develop on your teeth because of dehydration of the enamel on the teeth. But rest assured, at least in this case, there is a natural solution for the white spots. Once your teeth start receiving contact with saliva, these morning white spots typically fade away during the day.
DIFFERENT OPTIONS EXIST FOR TREATING WHITE SPOTS
Preventing white spots is always preferable to needing to treat them after they form, but there are a few treatments available.
- Microabrasion involves carefully removing a thin layer of enamel to give your teeth a more uniform appearance, and sometimes this is paired with tooth-whitening treatments.
- Bleaching is another way of giving your teeth more balanced color.
Some people who desire teeth whitening might have white spots on their teeth. This condition is fairly common and caused by a variety of reasons. While teeth whitening can help eliminate the yellowing or darkening of teeth, it can also make existing white spots on your teeth more prominent. For this reason, any patient interested in the procedure will need to determine for his or her self whether or not he or she is comfortable with the potential for brighter white spots after treatment.
- Veneers are a good option when the staining is particularly severe and bleaching won’t be enough to fix it. The dentist attaches thin porcelain to your teeth, giving them a natural, white appearance.
- Bonding works really well when we need to cover a small amount of stain or fill in a pit that is attracting stain with white bonding filling. If you have lots of stain, severe pitting or are looking for the ultimate cosmetic result then veneers are for you. Bonding works well we use bonding on young adults and children instead of veneers then do veneers when they become adults and their teeth have erupted all the way.
- And more, every person is different and there may be another alternative to what is listed above for you.
If you’re concerned about preventing white spots, brown spots, pits or already have them and would like to discuss treatment, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr.Miski
