White Spots on Teeth : Causes and Treatment

What causes white spots on my teeth?

White and shiny teeth reflect as a sign of excellent dental health, and people wish that their smile remains as white as possible. However, sometimes blotches of white discoloration occur on teeth. The blotch of white differs a lot from the rest of the teeth.

Such white spots or discoloration may occur due to multiple factors, including infections, vitamin deficiency, excess fluoride, and more.

Albeit in most cases, the spots are not hazardous, but it might affect confidence. Before visiting the dentist to get discoloration treated, it is better to understand the common white spots on teeth causes and the treatment options available.

White Spots on Teeth Causes

Excessive fluoride

White spots can appear on perfectly teeth when exposed to excessive fluoride. Exposure to excessive fluoride causes fluorosis. Fluoride prevents decay and strengthens teeth, but excessive fluoride results in deterioration and discoloration of teeth.

Fluorosis commonly occurs in children when they consume excessive fluoridated beverages or swallow toothpaste. Fluorosis sometimes leads to the pitting of enamel, thus making it harder to brush.

Unhealthy diet

Eating too much unhealthy food may cause white stains on teeth. The high concentration of acid in the food will diminish your teeth enamel that protects your teeth from damage. A high-sugar diet also leads to the formation of acid plaques and erode the enamel.

Enamel hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia is a condition where a person has less enamel than normal. Enamel hypoplasia is a result of nutritional deficiency that leads to loss of minerals in teeth. Nutritional deficiency also occurs due to conditions such as celiac disease.

With the celiac condition, the body has difficulty absorbing nutrients. White spots on the teeth child can occur due to enamel hypoplasia, but it can be seen in adults. Smoking at the time of pregnancy might cause enamel hypoplasia in children. Other causes of enamel hypoplasia include taking antibiotics, trauma, or high fever.

Demineralization or decalcification

Demineralization or decalcification occurs due to the accumulation of excessive bacteria in the mouth. Bacterial plaque accumulation occurs due to a lack of proper oral hygiene. Not brushing correctly or flossing regularly paves the way to bacterial buildup.

Plaque accumulation also occurs as a side effect of braces. The white spot on teeth that appears after removing braces is due to the deposit of plaques underneath and around the brackets.

The bacteria attack the teeth enamel and erode it. Enamel erosion leads to loss of calcium and calcium deposits on teeth causing white spots.

Sleeping with your mouth open 

You can see white stuff on your teeth when you wake up in the morning that disappears after few hours. White spots also appear when you sleep with your mouth open all night—the tooth white spots form due to dehydration of enamel. Once saliva rehydrates the enamel surface, the white areas will disappear.

The white spots on teeth don’t cause any harm, but you can visit a dentist and get the spots treated if you feel self-conscious.

Treatments for teeth white spots

How to remove white spots on teeth?

It is a common question that most people with white spots on teeth ask.

There are multiple treatment options available for a white spot on teeth. The suitability and success of treatments vary depending on the underlying cause and oral condition of the patient.

Enamel Microabrasion 

Microabrasion is a standard procedure used to treat white spots. The dentist removes a thin layer of enamel to reduce the white areas. After microabrasion, follows teeth bleaching. Teeth bleaching make sure that the color of teeth is uniform.

Teeth whitening 

Whitening the teeth reduces the appearance of the white spot and other stains on teeth. You can use a variety of over the counter teeth whitening products such as strips and paste. For better results, see dentists regarding teeth whitening treatment. The dentist uses robust bleaching solutions such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to whiten the teeth.

Dental veneer

The dental veneers are thin, protective, tooth-colored shells designed to cover the front of teeth. The dental veneers effectively cover white spots and discoloration on the show. You cannot fix the dental veneers on your own but visit a dentist for professional treatment. The dental veneer costs more compared to other treatments.

Composite resin

If white spots on your child’s tooth occur due to enamel hypoplasia, the dentist may apply a composite resin layer to fill the cavities. This method is not suitable for patients with many white spots.

Topical fluoride

In case of enamel hypoplasia, the doctor will apply topical fluoride to the teeth. Topical application of fluoride prevents tooth decay and enhances the development of enamel.

Bottom line

If your self-confidence gets affected by white spots on your teeth, don’t delay and contact Ekdantam dental clinic experts and schedule an appointment for a consultation.