Teeth can develop white spots for a variety of reasons. Even if you regularly brush, floss, and see your dentist for checkups and hygiene appointments, these white spots can still appear. Possible causes include eating and drinking sugary or acidic foods and beverages, resulting in demineralization or dental fluorosis. Sometimes, it’s due to the quality of tooth enamel.
Demineralization
Tooth enamel contains various minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, forming a strong outer coating that protects teeth. However, when exposed to acids, demineralization can occur. This process removes some minerals from your tooth enamel, softening it. It occurs after you eat anything very sugary, as the bacteria in your mouth get to work on the sugars, producing acid as a byproduct. The same thing can occur if you eat foods high in acids.
After eating and drinking sugary or acidic foods, your mouth remains acidic for at least half an hour afterwards before remineralization begins. During this process, some of the minerals removed during demineralization are redeposited back into your enamel, helping to re-harden it. However, repeated exposure to acids eventually causes lesions that initially begin as white spots. These white spots can be an early indication of tooth decay in Newcastle.
How to Reduce the Risk of Demineralisation
Whenever you visit our dental practice for checkups, our dentist will carefully assess each tooth, testing your tooth enamel for any signs of soft spots that may require attention. Sometimes, it may be possible to re-harden tooth enamel with professional fluoride applications. Professional strength fluoride can be safely applied to tooth surfaces, strengthening tooth enamel and reversing the early signs of white spots.
There are other ways you can help prevent or slow down demineralization and acid erosion affecting your tooth enamel, including practising good oral hygiene. Ensure you brush and floss your teeth regularly. After eating and drinking anything sugary or acidic, swish your mouth with water to help restore a more neutral pH more quickly. Try to avoid grazing on sugary and starchy foods between meals. If you want a snack, aim to eat something more tooth-friendly like cheese, natural yogurt, other sugar-free dairy products, or fruits and vegetables.
Dental Fluorosis
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is great for dental health, helping to strengthen tooth enamel and preventing tooth decay. Dental fluorosis can occur if a child is exposed to excess fluoride while their teeth are still developing, resulting in white lacy spots or brown or black spots forming over the tooth enamel. The condition is perfectly harmless but can look unsightly. It’s unlikely a child will be exposed to too much fluoride by merely drinking tap water since its quality is tightly regulated. It’s more likely to occur if someone drinks well water.
If you have a child, we can discuss using fluoridated dental products when you visit West Bowmanville Family Dental, ensuring your child receives the right amount of fluoride to protect their teeth without causing fluorosis. When dental fluorosis in Courtice is already present, it can be treated in various ways.
Enamel Hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia in Clarington is a condition that occurs while teeth are still developing, resulting in thinner than normal tooth enamel. It can affect baby or milk teeth and adult teeth and may increase the risk of tooth decay. Signs of enamel hypoplasia include pits or grooves affecting the enamel and white spots.
If you have this condition, we can monitor your dental health closely and recommend preventive treatments to help reduce your risk of tooth decay. These might include regular fluoride treatments or more frequent dental cleanings to help protect your teeth.
