White spots on teeth: why they appear and how to remove them

What are white spots on teeth

White spots on teeth are enamel defects.

Enamel is the thin but very hard shell of the tooth. It is mainly composed of calcium phosphate, which makes it the strongest tissue in the body. If for some reason the enamel is destroyed or stops developing, the connection begins to be missed. As a result, under the surface layer appearM. Khoroushi, M. Kachuie. Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions in Orthodontic Patients / Contemporary Clinical Dentistry areas of demineralization. Light reflects from them differently than from healthy tissue, so we see such areas as white dots.

Why do white spots appear on the teeth

Areas of demineralization most often occur due to the action of acids, but they occur on the teeth and immediately upon eruption. Various reasons can lead to such a defect.

Insufficient hygiene

When bacteria break down carbohydrates, acids are formed in the process. They penetrate under the surface layer of enamel and destroyM. Khoroushi, M. Kachuie. Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions in Orthodontic Patients / Contemporary Clinical Dentistry

his. If you do not clean off the bacterial plaque, then the tooth will continue to be damaged - it will appear caries.

Hygiene problems are especially common in children and people who wear braces or other non-removable orthodontic structures.

Lots of sweet food

If a man always eats sweets, then the bacteria produceWhich foods cause tooth decay? /NHS more acids. From this, calcium is lost faster and white spots appear, which gradually turn into black holes in the teeth.

Fluorosis

This is the name of a cosmetic defect that usually occurs in children under 8 years of age if they receivedFluorosis / Cleveland Clinic too much fluoride from food or hygiene products. When a tooth develops in the gum, then special cells - ameloblasts - create enamel on its surface. From an excess of fluoride, they die, respectively, fluorosis affects only unerupted teeth. After they grow up, this mineral will no longer be able to harm them.

With a mild degree of fluorosis, there will be several bright spots on the teeth, and with a severe degree, there will be white, light or dark brown spots over the entire surface, bumps and pits.

Children need to be careful toothpaste with fluorine and make sure that it is not swallowed, but spit out. At the same time, fluorine cannot be completely removed: it is needed because protectsJ. D. Featherstone. Prevention and reversal of dental caries: role of low level fluoride / Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology from caries.

Enamel hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia is a violation of its development. That is, at the moment when the tooth was laid, for example, before birth or in infancy, some kind of failure occurred. Various factors can be the reason:

• Congenital diseases, such as congenital hypoparathyroidismS. J. Goepferd, C. M. Flaitz. Enamel hypoplasia associated with congenital hypoparathyroidism / Pediatric Dentistry, Usher's syndromev. A. de la Peña, M. C. Valea. Treatment of enamel hypoplasia in a patient with Usher syndrome / The Journal of the American Dental Association, Seckel's syndromeP. J. De Coster, R. M. H. Verbeeck, V. Holthaus, L. C. Marten, A. Vral. Seckel syndrome associated with oligodontia, microdontia, enamel hypoplasia, delayed eruption, and dentin dysmineralization: a new variant? / and some others.
• a lack of vitamin DG. Nikiforuk, D. Fraser. The etiology of enamel hypoplasia: A unifying concept / The Journal of Pediatrics during the mother's pregnancy.
• SmokingD. Ford, W. K. Seow, S. Kazoullis, T. Holcombe, b. Newman. A controlled study of risk factors for enamel hypoplasia in the permanent dentition / Pediatric Dentistry mother during pregnancy.
• ReceptionP. E. Jacobsen, T. b. Henriksen, D. Haubek, J. R. Ostergaard. Developmental Enamel Defects in Children Prenatally Exposed to Anti‑Epileptic Drugs / PLOS One certain medicines, such as those for epilepsy, during the mother's pregnancy.
• InjuriesM. Sandhu, S. Gulia, M. Nagpal, V. Sachdev. Circular Enamel Hypoplasia: A Rare Enamel Developmental Disturbance in Permanent Teeth / Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.
• infectionsD. Ford, W.K. Seow, S. Kazoullis, T. Holcombe, b. Newman. A controlled study of risk factors for enamel hypoplasia in the permanent dentition /Pediatric Dentistrysuch as SARS, otitis media, chicken pox, diseases of the urinary tract in infancy and others.

Due to enamel hypoplasia, white spots, pits, grooves on the teeth may appear.

Adhesive residue after orthodontic treatment

Non-removable orthodontic appliances such as braces,glueS. S. Temel, b. Kaya. Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions Related to Orthodontics / International Journal of Oral and Dental Health» on special material. Bacteria, which create acid that destroys enamel, feel great on it. So in places where the adhesive, for example, lies unevenly and sticks out from under the bracket, there will be more microbes, demineralization will accelerate and white spots will appear. Therefore, it is so important to monitor oral hygiene and go to the dentist on time.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

When the acidic contents of the stomach constantly enter the esophagus, this is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If acid is often in the mouth, such as during sleep, it destroys tooth enamel. This is why people with GERD not uncommonC. Corega, M. Baciut, L. Vaida, M. A. Corega, G. Baciut. Dental white spots associated with gastro‑esophageal reflux in orthodontic and orthognathic surgery patients / Journal of gastrointestinal and liver diseases white dots.

bulimia

This is an eating disorder, which is insatiable hunger. At bulimia many get rid of the food they eat by causing vomiting, as a result of which acidic gastric juice constantly acts on the enamel. From this appearC. Corega, L. Vaida, D. G. Festila, G. Rigoni, M. Albanese, A. D'Agostino, A. Pardo, A. Rossetto, P. F. Nocini, D. Bertossi. Dental white spots associated with bulimia nervosa in orthodontic patients / Minerva Stomatologica areas of demineralization. In addition, due to frequent vomiting, the valve between the stomach and esophagus ceases to “lock” the contents well. This leads to GERD, and the teeth get even worse.

How to remove white spots on teeth

If the problem is only of an aesthetic nature, for example, as with fluorosis, then the defect can be masked. And if the white spot is the beginning of caries, then you need to remineralize the enamel. Worth consulting with dentistto suggest the best option available.

microabrasion

Teeth polishedS. S. Temel, b. Kaya. Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions Related to Orthodontics / International Journal of Oral and Dental Healthto remove part of the surface layer. As a result, they become smoother, and calcium phosphate fills the gaps between the enamel particles to make it stronger.

Fluoridation

Right on the spots inflictS. S. Temel, b. Kaya. Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions Related to Orthodontics / International Journal of Oral and Dental Health fluorine in very high concentration. After the procedure, the dentist may prescribe calcium phosphate products for better results.

Whitening

Whitening can disguiseS. S. Temel, b. Kaya. Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions Related to Orthodontics / International Journal of Oral and Dental Health stains, because undamaged areas lighten more than defects and the color evens out.

Installation of veneers

Veneers are the patches that imitateA. M. El Mourad. Aesthetic Rehabilitation of a Severe Dental Fluorosis Case with Ceramic Veneers: A Step‑by‑Step Guide / Case Reports in Dentistry tooth surface. They are suitable in severe cases of fluorosis, when microabrasion and whitening are no longer effective. Veneers are very durable and immediately improve the appearance, but they are very expensive.

How to prevent white spots on teeth

Prevention is much easier than dealing with an existing problem. And definitely cheaper. Here's what can be done.

Brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly

In order to have fewer bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, it is timely take awayM. Khoroushi, M. Kachuie. Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions in Orthodontic Patients / Contemporary Clinical Dentistry raid. An electric toothbrush works best, but antimicrobial rinses can also be used as an aid.

Brush your teeth you need at least twice a day, and in orthodontic treatment - after each meal. On the recommendation of a doctor, it is sometimes worth going for a professional cleaning.

Use gels and varnishes with fluoride

Can applyM. Khoroushi, M. Kachuie. Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions in Orthodontic Patients / Contemporary Clinical Dentistry fluoride compound two to four times a year, because only the paste or rinse aid, even with good hygiene will not provide a sufficient level of prevention.

Use Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Casein Phosphopeptide (CPP‑ACP) products

These are special complexes from the milk protein casein, which provideM. Khoroushi, M. Kachuie. Prevention and Treatment of White Spot Lesions in Orthodontic Patients / Contemporary Clinical Dentistry enamel with calcium phosphate and reduce acidity. The products are sold in the form of creams that must be applied directly to the teeth after brushing. For the next half an hour, and preferably longer, you can not drink and eat, so that the effect is stronger.