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White Spots on Teeth
A number of factors can lead to the development of white
spots on teeth. Sometimes these spots are caused by nutrition, genetics, or an
excessive intake of fluoride, while other times they become evident after braces
have been removed. Some children also develop white spots on their teeth as
they are developing.
Usually white spots that appear on the teeth are actually
areas of decalcified enamel and sometimes this problem can actually lead to the
deterioration of teeth. Some dentists
will tell you that the first evidence of tooth decay is a white spot lesion and
by this description they mean that the tooth’s enamel has taken on an opaque
color in the area where the cavity is beginning to form.
White spots on the teeth can appear after changes have
occurred in the mineral content of a person’s teeth (which often happens
childhood and leads to eventual deterioration of enamel if left untreated).
White spots can also appear in connection with a condition called fluorosis,
which is the result of having an excessive intake of fluoride. People who live
in areas where drinking water contains a high fluoride level often encounter
this problem.
White spot lesions are also commonly attributed to having
braces. People with orthodontic braces often have trouble properly brushing
their teeth and the result is a build-up of plaque. The acids in plaque can
severely harm tooth enamel and eventually cause cavities. The first evidence of
this type of tooth decay is the white
decalcified enamel spot or lesion that becomes apparent when braces are
removed.
White spots (or
areas where enamel has become decalcified) can be extremely bothersome when
braces are removed because usually the part of the tooth that has remained
underneath the orthodontic bracket will remain protected from plaque, while bacteria
continues to attack the area surrounding the brackets. This means that when
braces are removed the teeth will appear stained by the brackets and small,
square, discolored outlines will remain on teeth until they are treated.
Treatment options
for white spots on teeth can include fluoride treatment, bonding and porcelain
laminate placement depending on the severity of the problem.
Most people do not
realize that sometimes having bright, white teeth isn’t necessarily a good
thing. So, if you haven’t been brushing and flossing but you’ve noticed your
teeth are getting whiter keep in mind you might be well on the way to decay.
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