Nothing compares to the happiness of having your braces removed. There are, however, occasionally unpleasant surprises. Patients frequently discover that the bacteria under their brackets is what is responsible for the white spots on their teeth. White spots on teeth could result from a number of conditions, including dental fluorosis, hypoplasia of the enamel, poor oral hygiene, and consuming an excessive amount of acidic or sweet foods.
The good news is that it can be treated and reversed. How to get rid of white spots on teeth? There are several ways such as teeth whitening or bleaching,
Continue reading for advice on treating and preventing white spots on teeth. In this article, we’ll look at some of the possible causes of these spots.
Read More: Deep Dental Cleaning
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Causes Of White Spots On Teeth
White spots on the teeth can result from a number of problems and conditions:
- When people are not paying as much attention to hygiene as they should, we frequently see them in kids or adults with braces. Your teeth may be more difficult to clean if you have wires and brackets. Bacteria that become lodged under braces continue to come into contact with tooth enamel. These bacteria cause discoloration by removing minerals like calcium. When a patient consumes a lot of sugary or acidic foods or drinks sugary beverages, we observe the same problem without braces.
- White spots can develop in young children due to dental fluorosis. Fluoride overdose in children under the age of eight can cause brown or white stains to develop on developing teeth. Fluorosis may be aggravated by toothpaste consumption by young children, high fluoride levels in drinking water, or excessive mouthwash use. In mild cases, we typically see white flecks or spots. More extensive white areas, pitting, or brown stains may be present in more severe cases.
- A different disorder that can affect young children is enamel hypoplasia. It happens when weakened enamel, which results in white spots, pitting, or other discoloration, is caused by genetics or prenatal vitamin deficiencies.
How To Treat White Spots On Teeth?
For white spots on the teeth, there are a number of potential treatments. Depending on the underlying cause of the white spots and the state of a person’s teeth, these treatments may or may not be appropriate.
1. Enamel Microabrasion
For some people, microabrasion may be an effective way to treat their white spots. To lessen the visibility of the white spots, a dentist performs this procedure during which a small portion of enamel is removed from the teeth.
Following this professional procedure, teeth bleaching is frequently used to give the appearance of more uniformly colored teeth.
2. Teeth Whitening Or Bleaching
White spots and other stains can be made to look less noticeable by bleaching or whitening teeth. There are many over-the-counter (OTC) teeth-whitening products, including strips and paste.) These goods can also be purchased online.
White spot sufferers may also seek out professional whitening procedures from a dentist. These treatments typically make use of stronger bleaching agents than those that can be purchased over-the-counter, which may improve their efficacy.
3. Composite Resin.
In order to fill cavities and bond the outer enamel of the teeth, a dentist may use composite resin on patients with enamel hypoplasia. If a person has numerous white spots on their teeth, this may not be the best option.
4. Dental Veneer
The front of a person’s teeth can be protected by tiny, protective coverings called dental veneers. They are very good at hiding white spots and other flaws.
Only a dentist can provide dental veneers, and they need to be fitted by a professional. This can make them costly.
5. Topical Fluoride
People with enamel hypoplasia may have topical fluoride applied to their teeth by a dentist. This could promote the growth of enamel on the teeth and guard against tooth decay.
How To Prevent White Spots On Teeth?
Fluorosis can be avoided with awareness by parents of young children.
- By contacting your city or town or conducting well water tests, you can keep track of the fluoride levels in your drinking water. The Centers for Disease Control advise using another source of drinking water for children eight years of age and younger if the fluoride level is greater than two milligrams per liter.
- It can be difficult for young children to swallow toothpaste. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on kids between the ages of 2 and 6, and watch them make sure they’re spitting the toothpaste out rather than swallowing it.
- If young child is not at a high risk of tooth decay, they typically don’t require a fluoride mouthwash.
- When necessary, only take fluoride supplements. Before using, consult your pediatrician and dentist.
- If a person’s home is connected to a private well, they may want to think about having their water tested annually for fluoride levels. Due to the wide variations in natural fluoride levels across the country, this policy is essential for anyone with young children.
Extra care should be taken to maintain dental hygiene for people wearing braces.
- The best method for avoiding white spots is diligent brushing and flossing.
- Use a water cleaner to get to those hard-to-reach areas or an electric toothbrush made for braces.
- Avoid eating too many foods high in sugar and acid, especially sodas and sports drinks.
Final Thoughts
Looking in the mirror and noticing that your teeth are stained is a common occurrence. Furthermore, the colors of these stains can vary greatly.
To make the teeth appear more uniform in color, a dentist may suggest procedures like in-office whitening or the use of veneers.
White spots on the teeth should be checked out by the dentist if you are concerned.
