Protecting Your Smile from White Spots

White spots on your teeth can be a truly confusing event. You might wonder what caused the white spots, or why the rest of your teeth aren’t that white. White spots are caused by a number of reasons, not all of which indicate a lack of oral health. Whether or not these spots mean something is wrong doesn’t change the fact that they are unsightly and keep you from having a full and beautiful smile that you might desire.

Fluorosis

One of the biggest causes of white spots on teeth is fluorosis. This is caused by an overuse of fluoride before the tooth has emerged from the gums. Fluorosis of the teeth does not cause any damage, but it can cause unsightly and uneven coloring. The best way to avoid fluorosis is by limiting the overuse of toothpaste as much as possible for young children before they get their adult teeth. You should only use a dab of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice for young children.

Enamel Hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia means that your tooth enamel is a thinner layer of enamel or it lacks mineralization. The lack of enamel makes your teeth more likely to be stained by things such as coffee. This can potentially be caused by smoking during pregnancy, malnutrition, and premature birth.

Braces and Demineralization

When plaque isn’t properly removed from teeth through proper brushing and flossing, this causes the plaque to build up and damage teeth through demineralization. As your enamel loses minerals, it becomes weaker and more susceptible to damage, decay, and staining. When you have braces, this becomes an even bigger problem because brushing away the plaque becomes more difficult.

Different Options Exist for Treating White Spots

It’s best to prevent the white spots altogether if possible. But, if prevention is not an option, then there are ways to treat them. Microabrasion, bleaching, and veneers are all used as a treatment for white spots.