Everyone wishes they had a perfect, pearly white smile. However, noticing white spots or blotches on your teeth could be a sign of tooth decay, vitamin deficiency, or other problems. Our dentists explain what causes these white spots on teeth, when they can be prevented, and the different white spot treatment options.
What Causes White Spots on Teeth?
The white spots on your teeth are not stains, but a sign of demineralization. These white spots appear as calcium and other minerals are drained from your teeth, and they often signal the beginning of tooth decay.
Here are several examples of what causes white spots:
- Fluorosis: This condition affects children under nine, and occurs while their teeth are still developing. Fluoride is important for good dental health, but ingesting too much fluoride can cause white spots and even small indents (pitting) in children’s tooth enamel.
- Enamel Hypoplasia: A condition in which your tooth enamel does not develop properly. Enamel hypoplasia can stem from an inherited condition, such as DiGeorge Syndrome, pregnancy-related issues, not getting enough calcium, or a deficiency of vitamin A, C, or D.
- Sleeping with Your Mouth Open: This is generally not a cause for concern. When you sleep with your mouth open, your teeth will dry out. Your enamel becomes dehydrated, which may cause white spots to appear on your teeth. They usually disappear within a few hours after waking, because your saliva will rehydrate the enamel.
- Diet: Eating a lot of acidic or sugary foods or beverages can cause white spots to appear on your teeth because they wear down your enamel. Acid reflux from spicy foods can also cause white spots.
Can You Prevent White Spots on Teeth?
Some of the causes of white spots on teeth can be avoided, while others cannot. For example, if you have been sleeping with your mouth open because you are congested, you can simply try taking a nasal decongestant.
To prevent fluorosis in children, you must be conscious of how much fluoride your child ingests.
- Test your tap water’s fluoride levels.
- Keep up to date on fluoridation laws in your area by contacting your local water supply company.
- Make sure your child does not use too much toothpaste and spits it all out after brushing.
Although there is no way to avoid the hereditary causes, enamel hypoplasia can be prevented if it stems from environmental factors.
- Add vitamin A and D supplements to your daily routine
- Eat more green, leafy vegetables
- Drink milk for added calcium
- Practice good dental hygiene
- Cut down on acidic and sugary foods and beverages
White Spot Treatment in South Jordan, Utah
If you have fluorosis or enamel hypoplasia, dental veneers or enamel microabrasion can be possible treatment options. But since every case is different, you’ll need an exam to figure out the cause. At Copper Creek Dental, we can help you get rid of those white spots on the front of your teeth with a minimally invasive white spot treatment that does not involve any drills.
Contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options with one of our skilled dentists today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (01/03/2025) Photo by Spencer Quast on Unsplash