Why do I have white spots on my teeth?

White stains on teeth

White teeth can be a sign of excellent dental health, and some people do everything to make their smile as white as possible. These include daily brushing, regular teeth cleaning and the use of teeth whitening agents. But sometimes “white spots” form on the teeth.

This white shade is different from the rest of your teeth, and some find it annoying. White stains on teeth can be a sign of decay, so it is important to identify the cause.

Causes of white spots on teeth

White spots usually can form on the teeth for several reasons. Your dentist can explain certain causes and then determine the best way to treat your condition.

Common causes include:

Diet

If you eat too much acidic food, white stains can form on your teeth. This is because highly acidic foods eat away at your tooth enamel. Sour foods and beverages include carbonated beverages and certain fruits, such as lemon, orange and grapefruit. This outer layer protects your teeth from damage.

A diet rich in sugar also causes the formation of acid deposits that can corrode the enamel.

Acid reflux (GERD) is another trigger because it produces acid in the stomach, throat and mouth. As your tooth enamel breaks down, you may experience other symptoms such as sensitivity to cold or hot food and drink.

Fluorosis

Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents decay, but too much fluoride in developing teeth can have the opposite effect, causing decay and discoloration. This can happen when children consume too many fluoridated drinks or swallow fluoride toothpaste.

Enamel hypoplasia

This disadvantage is related to the fact that it has less enamel than normal. Enamel hypoplasia can occur due to a nutritional deficiency that causes a loss of minerals in the tooth. The culprits include conditions like celiac disease, where the body has difficulty absorbing nutrients due to a weakened immune system.

Taking antibiotics can also interfere with nutrient absorption.

In addition, smoking during pregnancy can cause this condition in children. Other symptoms of enamel hypoplasia include grooves or lines on the teeth and tooth sensitivity.

Plaque accumulation

White stains on teeth can also be created due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque. This is the result of poor dental hygiene, such as irregular brushing or flossing. It can also occur as a side effect of wearing braces.

Sleeping with your mouth open

You may notice white spots on your teeth when you wake up in the morning and disappear after a few hours. This is often caused by sleeping with your mouth open all night. These white spots are formed by dehydrating the enamel surface of your teeth. Once the saliva gets on the teeth again, they will rehydrate and the white spots will disappear.

Bolest od prehlade može povećati vjerojatnost spavanja otvorenih usta.

Treatment of white spots on teeth

White stains on teeth can bother some, but there are a number of treatment options to remove those stains.

Microabrasion

This procedure removes the enamel layer from the tooth surface using mild abrasion. It can remove white stains and improve the appearance of teeth.

Whitening

Whitening is a procedure of teeth whitening that is performed under the supervision of a doctor. This procedure helps balance the color of the tooth enamel. The treatment effectively brightens the entire tooth to match the color of the white spots.

Whitening is not an effective treatment for people who have white spots on their teeth from excessive use of fluoride. This treatment can further whiten white spots, resulting in the spots taking on a different white hue.

How to prevent the formation of white spots on the teeth in children?

To prevent excessive exposure to fluoride in young children, monitor your children while brushing their teeth. You should not put too much paste on the brush, but apply the amount of peas on the brush.

Also, teach children not to swallow toothpaste while brushing. Monitor the amount of fluoride your child consumes and reduce the number of daily drinks if necessary. Fluoride is found in fruit juices, bottled water and soft drinks.

At Medikadent Polyclinic, we will successfully remove white stains from your teeth.