Everyone wants to have pearl white teeth. After all, white teeth are a sign of excellent dental health, and some people do whatever it takes to keep their smile shining white. Even if you go for regular dental teeth cleaning, you may come across white spots on teeth or discoloration.
This shade of white is different from your regular white teeth, and it can be bothersome to some people. White spots and stains on teeth can also be a sign of decay in some cases. This is why it is important to find out the reason behind tooth discoloration.
In this post, we will discuss the causes of white spots on teeth, prevention methods, and treatments.
Causes of white spots on teeth
White stains on teeth can be caused due to many different reasons. Your dentist can help you identify the specific cause and determine the best treatment.
Below we have mentioned some of the common reasons for white spots on teeth.
Diet
Eating too many acidic foods can be one of the reasons behind sudden white spots on teeth. Acidic foods can eat your tooth enamel, which is the outer protective layer of your teeth.
Also, high sugar intake can form acidic plaque, which erodes enamel. Drinks and sodas are examples of acidic food with high quantities of sugar content. Grapefruit, lemons, and oranges are also acidic in nature.
Acid reflux can also damage your teeth. When your teeth’ enamel breaks down, you can experience sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks.
Fluorosis
Fluoride helps in strengthening teeth and preventing decay. However, excessive fluoride can have opposite effects on teeth causing discoloration and decay. This is common in children who swallow fluoride toothpaste and drink fluoridated beverages. Fluorosis can also cause pitted enamel making it harder to brush and clean teeth.
Enamel hypoplasia
Another common cause of white spots on teeth is hypoplasia. Enamel Hypoplasia has less enamel than normal. It can be caused due to mineral deficiency which can cause a mineral loss in teeth.
Taking antibiotics for treating fever can disturb nutrient absorption in your body. When a woman smokes during pregnancy, the children might be born with this condition.
Plaque accumulation
Sometimes white stains on teeth also form due to plaque bacteria accumulation. This is caused due to poor dental hygiene, like not brushing and flossing properly. People who wear braces may also experience plaque accumulation.
Sleeping with mouth open
If you notice sudden white spots on teeth in the morning after you just woke up, then this is because of sleeping with your mouth open at night. These white spots go away automatically after a few hours. It happens due to dehydration of the enamel surface, and once the saliva hits the teeth again, they will rehydrate and get normal.
Treatment for white spots on the teeth
If white spots on teeth bother you, do not worry; there are plenty of treatment options. Check these ways to get rid of white spots on teeth.
Microabrasion
Microabrasion is the process of getting rid of an enamel layer using mild abrasion. This process gets rid of white stains and helps in improving the appearance of teeth.
Bleaching
Bleaching is a procedure of teeth whitening which is performed under the supervision of a doctor. It helps in balancing your tooth enamel color and lightens your entire tooth to match the color of white spots.
Bleaching is not the right method to get rid of white spots on teeth for people who developed it because of fluoride overuse. This treatment will bleach those white spots further, making them look a different shade.
Read More- How Dental Cleaning Can Save You From Bigger Problems In the Future?
Veneers
Depending on how noticeable your white spots are, your doctor may suggest you wear porcelain veneers. This is a process of creating custom porcelain bonded with the surface of your teeth.
Tips To Prevent White Spots on Teeth
To prevent white stains on teeth:
- Start following good dental hygiene practices.
- Brush and floss your teeth regularly.
- If possible, rinse your teeth after every meal.
- Use an electric toothbrush at night to reduce plaque buildup.
You can also use Waterpik to remove plaque accumulating around your braces’ brackets and between the teeth. Your dentist may suggest you use toothpaste meant for remineralizing enamel and keep your teeth protected from white spots.
Consume less acidic food and low sugar to protect the enamel and white spots. Use pea-sized toothpaste on children’s bruh and teach them not to swallow the toothpaste. Keep a check on the amount of fluoride your kids consume and cut back beverages if required. Soft drinks, fruit juices, and bottled water all contain fluoride.
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