white spots on teeth
White Spots on Teeth
White spots on front teeth are often very unsightly and problematic to deal with. Read on to know the causes and treatment for white spots on teeth.
- Fluorosis: Fluorosis is by far the most common cause of white spots on teeth. It is a condition where the amount of fluoride reaches such a high amount in the body that it affects teeth and other parts of the skeletal system. The main source of fluoride is drinking water, though it normally occurs when the amount of fluoride in the water being consumed is more than 1ppm (parts per million). Dental fluorosis causes hypomineralization of the tooth enamel, which leads to staining. Though only the initial stages of fluorosis cause white spots, if fluoride ingestion levels are not brought under control, it can lead to skeletal fluorosis, which is a much more serious condition.
- Fresh Cavities: One of the most common causes for these spots is tooth decay. In the initial stages of dental caries, the lesion is well a demarcated chalky-white opacity, without any loss of continuity of the enamel. That is, the surface looks discolored as white spots, but there is no breakage on the surface. Enamel, though the hardest structure in the human body, is semi-porous in nature, and hence there is increased permeability of enamel and susceptibility to caries. Such white spots mostly appear on the front teeth, near the inter-dental wall.
- Dental Plaque: Dental plaque is commonly mistaken as a white spot on tooth. It is the microfilm that is present on the surface of teeth. Sometimes, there may also be food particles on the surface of teeth that may be mistaken for white spots. Hence, always brush your teeth, or at least rinse them properly, before reaching the diagnosis of white spots.
- Enamel Hypoplasia: A condition that seriously affects dental health, enamel hypoplasia is a condition where the tooth enamel is incompletely developed in thickness and in quality. It occurs due to defective enamel matrix formation during the development of teeth. It leads to white spots, breakdown of occlusal surface, and eventually the presence of other stains on teeth.
- Amelogenesis imperfecta: Amelogenesis imperfecta is a group of rare hereditary diseases that affect enamel formation. It causes production of abnormal enamel, although the dentin and cementum are normal. This problem can strike at any of the three stages of enamel formation; enamel matrix formation, early mineralization, or enamel maturation. Thus, it can be of hypoplastic type, hypocalcification type, or hypomaturation type. This condition leads to white spots on teeth, as the enamel looks white and flaky. Also, there is often chipping of the incisal edges and discoloration of cusps and tips of teeth, which gives them a snow-capped appearance.
- Other Causes: Other causes include aggressive pin point brushing and excessive intake of sodas, especially when taken with a straw, as it leads to decalcification of the tooth structure in that region.