Why do I Have White Spots on my Teeth

February 18, 2020, Langley Dental Practice

Do you suffer from white spots on your teeth, but you don’t know what they are from or how to get rid of them? Don’t worry, you are not alone. There are many people out there that are suffering from the same problem as you. Luckily, there are some ways to remedy this issue.

 

In order to help you, here is a complete guide as to what causes white spots on teeth and what you can do to prevent and/or get rid of them completely so that you can live your life more comfortable and confident in your smile.

What are the White Spots on My Teeth?

If you have white spots on your teeth, you may be wondering what those are and how they got there. Those white spots that are found on teeth are actually a discoloration in the teeth known as decalcification.

Decalcification occurs when the calcium and phosphorous are limited in your teeth due to acids or bacteria in the mouth. Once these two elements are removed, your teeth begin to decay and become more susceptible to damage.

What Causes White Spots on Teeth?

Before we can talk about how to get rid of white spots on teeth, it is important to know why white spots appear in the first place. While some reasons are more subdued and not as serious, others can be signs of a more serious problem at hand. Below are some of the primary causes of white spots on teeth:

Bacteria Growth: If there is an overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth, you will suffer from issues such as white spots on your teeth. Bacteria grows very quickly in your mouth and on your teeth, so this is one of the most common reasons why people have white spots. Your mouth is much more susceptible to bacteria and bacteria growth if you intake a lot of acidy foods or beverages. This makes it all the more important to thoroughly brush your teeth and floss every single day.

Fluoride: While fluoride is normally a good thing for your teeth and oral health, using too much of it can result in having white spots developing. This is especially true for children since their teeth are still developing and strengthening. Because of this, you want to be sure that you or your children do not use too much fluoride in your tooth routine.

Bad Diet: While a ‘bad diet’ is usually categorized as those high in acids and sugar, the diet that is a common contributing factor in white spots is not getting enough calcium. If you are on a diet that is restrictive on calcium or realize that you don’t intake a lot of calcium throughout the day, this can adversely affect your teeth. Calcium helps your mouth to produce enamel so that your teeth are strong and protected. Without this, your teeth become more susceptible to damage and issues such as white spots.

Certain Medications: There are certain medications that can be contributing factor in the appearance of white spots on your teeth. The most common medications that have been found to cause this discoloration include various antibiotics such as amoxicillin. The reason why these medications cause discoloration is because they will affect the way that your mouth produces enamel which leaves your teeth more vulnerable to discoloration and other issues.

Braces: If you have braces or have had braces, this can cause that discoloration to occur on your teeth. For example, many people who have or have had braces will notice white lines around where the bracket of the braces was once glues. This is due to minerals stripping your teeth because they get stuck and hidden in the braces. Because of this, it is crucial that you brush and floss thoroughly if you have braces.

How to Get Rid of White Spots on Your Teeth?
Once you have figured out why you have white spots to begin with, you can them begin working to get rid of them and have a healthier and shinier smile. There are various different methods that you can try to get rid of or disguise the white spots on your teeth.

Unfortunately, these methods all require the assistance of a trained dentist since there is no way to get rid of them from home. Below are some of the most common ways to reduce the appearance of white spots on the teeth:

Enamel Micro abrasion: A micro abrasion treatment is a treatment performed by your dentist. This treatment involves mechanically whitening your teeth through using tools. While this does not seem like a very inviting process, this is actually the best method since it doesn’t result in an immense amount of enamel loss.

Bleaching Your Teeth: Another common method to disguising the white spots on your teeth is to bleach the rest of your teeth. You do want to go to a dentist for this so that they can execute the process correctly and professionally. To do so, they will use a bleach that is safe for your teeth and essentially stain your other teeth to match your white spots as closely as they can.

Veneers: If nothing else works, you can always rely on veneers to get the job done. Veneers are thin coverings that go over your teeth to cover any imperfections. This way, you just have the get the veneers bonded to your teeth so that they will stay in place and you are good to go.

Overall

Overall, if you are suffering from pesky white spots on your teeth and don’t know what to do about them, there are some ways that you can go about getting rid of them. On top of that, it is essential that you pinpoint the cause of your white spots on the first place because from there, you can more easily prevent them.

If you don’t have the confidence that you want in your smile due to white spots, there are things that you can do to conceal them and get that confidence back.
 

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