How to fix white spots on your teeth
White spots on a tooth (or often, multiple teeth) are a very common problem especially in the younger age bracket. They can be a significant cause for concern due to cosmetic concerns. Firstly, it’s important to determine what the cause of the white spots are. Generally, there are 3 main causes, and, if you can hone in on the correct cause, the problem is often very easy to fix.
Causes of white spots on teeth:
- Fluorosis – this is a condition where excess fluoride during tooth enamel development causes white spots. It often appears in a ‘mottled’ pattern. It is important to ensure your child uses a fluoride toothpaste appropriate to their age to prevent fluorosis from developing in their adult teeth. You should also only use a fluoride toothpaste for children who can adequately spit out excess toothpaste. Generally, extra forms of fluoride in the form of fluoride supplements are not recommended unless a child is deemed high risk for tooth decay, or lives in an area which does not have fluorided tap water.
- Tooth decay – early tooth decay causes a change in the colour of healthy tooth enamel, and it often appears ‘whiter’ than the rest of the enamel. These areas often occur near the gumlines of the teeth.
- Enamel hypoplasia – this is a condition where the enamel of a tooth does not develop properly, and often displays discolouration, often appearing white, cream, yellow or brown. There are many causes of enamel hypoplasia, but it is often a result of a disruption in the development of the tooth’s enamel, usually due to illness and fever in childhood or infancy. Other causes include perinatal illness, premature birth, low birth weight, trauma to permanent teeth or infection of deciduous teeth.
- Overbleaching of the teeth – while whitening your teeth does not damage your teeth, incorrect use of whitening agents can in extreme instances cause white spots to appear on the teeth. We always recommend in chair whitening treatment to ensure that this does not occur.
If you have white spots on your teeth that you dislike, it’s important to speak with your dentist to find out the cause and the best way of fixing it.
Often, the treatment options are not expensive and fairly straightforward. If your white spots fall into one of the above categories, one of the best products to help reverse the white spots is GC Tooth Mousse Plus. This is a fantastic product which has been recommended for decades due to its ability to remineralise and ‘repair’ enamel. Along with helping reduce the appearance of white spots, it can also help improve tooth sensitivity and reduce tooth decay. It really is the most amazing product!
Your dentist may also suggest some microabrasion treatments prior to using GC Tooth Mousse Plus, which helps to gently remove any damaged enamel and smooth the surface of the tooth. In more severe causes, some minor tooth coloured restorations could also be used to create a more uniform tooth shape.
Do you have any more questions about white spots or discolouration of the teeth? Our friendly Claremont dental team would be happy to speak to you and organise a consultation with our Claremont dentists. Call us on 6143 5655 or book online here. We also have GC Tooth Mousse Plus available to purchase from our Claremont dental practice. Please pop by if you need to purchase some.
