Have you noticed white spots on your teeth and wondered what they mean? White spots on teeth can occur due to numerous reasons. This may include infections and illnesses, excess fluoride, vitamin deficiencies, and even injury to the tooth. In most cases, white marks on teeth are not dangerous to your teeth’ health. However, they can make you feel self-conscious. If you have white stains on your teeth, you can visit us. Our dentists in Pearland Family Dentistry can assess your white dots and discoloration. This way, we can determine the best treatment for you to improve your teeth’ appearance.
Read along to learn about the 5 causes of white spots on teeth. But before that, let’s take a look at what they even mean?
What Do White Spots on Teeth Mean?
We all love to have pearl-white teeth. Not only do they look attractive, but they’re also a sign of excellent dental health. That’s why people do whatever they can to achieve the pearl-white smile. This includes having regular dental cleaning, brushing daily, and using teeth-whitening products. However, sometimes discolorations like white marks form on the teeth.
This will make the teeth different from the rest of your teeth. And so, most people find it bothersome. Above all, white spots on the teeth may be a sign of tooth decay. So it’s vital to know white stains’ causes.
Causes of White Spots on Teeth
White spots can develop on your teeth due to several reasons. Some of them are as follows:
1. Acidic or Sugary Diet
You may get white spots on your teeth due to eating too many acidic foods. This is because highly acidic foods can damage your tooth enamel – the outer layer that protects your teeth from damage.
Another trigger of white marks formation is acid reflux because it produces acid in the throat, stomach, and mouth. Furthermore, consuming a diet containing a high amount of sugar can cause white stains on your teeth. This is because sugary foods can form acidic plaque that can damage your tooth’s enamel. These foods include sodas and certain fruit juices, like lemons, grapefruit, and oranges.
2. Fluorosis
Fluoride is beneficial for your teeth. It prevents tooth decay and strengthens teeth. However, too much fluoride – especially during the developing teeth period— can have the opposite effect. Excessive fluoride can cause teeth discoloration and tooth decay. This often happens with children that swallow fluoride toothpaste and consume fluoridated beverages. Therefore, fluorosis can cause white spots on teeth by eroding tooth enamel.
3. Enamel hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia is another contributor to the development of white spots on teeth. This condition occurs when your teeth have less enamel than required. It is often due to lack of nutrition that causes mineral loss in your tooth. Conditions like celiac disease can make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients due to a weakened immune system. Moreover, your body can have difficulty absorbing nutrients if you take antibiotics and smoke too much.
4. Plaque accumulation
White spots on teeth are also formed because of the accumulation of bacterial plaque. This occurs when you don’t follow good dental hygiene or after removing braces. Poor oral hygiene and not removing plaque between brackets can cause demineralization of the tooth. Thus, your tooth appears rough, chipped, or has white marks.
5. Dehydration of the enamel surface
White marks can also appear on your teeth because of dehydration of your teeth’ enamel. This is often due to sleeping with the mouth open all night. However, white dots caused by dehydration can quickly go away when saliva hits the teeth.
Now that you know what white spots on teeth are and why they form, make sure you follow good oral hygiene practices. You can contact us to learn more about dental hygiene.