White spots on teeth can be distressing. People want their teeth to be consistent and often try for a whiter, brighter smile. The good news is you can get rid of white spots on your teeth. The bad news is you need to find out what is causing the spots, or dental fluorosis, to get the appropriate treatment.
There are three basic causes of white stains on teeth and each has a treatment.
Cavities
The first sign of a cavity isn’t pain or a pit. It’s a white spot on your teeth. Cavities grow in stages and a white spot on your teeth could indicate a cavity that is in the first stage of development.
This is great news because first-stage cavities can be reversed at a dental office. The process is called remineralization. Remineralization occurs with a fluoride treatment. These aren’t the simple fluoride mouth rinses the hygienist gives you after cleaning. A fluoride treatment is an additional treatment that coats your teeth with fluoride. There is no rinsing. You keep it on to let the fluoride set into your teeth to remineralize enamel.
The strengthened enamel reverses the cavity as it hasn’t yet broken through the enamel. Only cavities in the first stage can be reversed. This isn’t something you can do at home but must be done in a dental office by a professional.
Permanent Stains
Those who have abused their teeth with coffee, smoking, red wine, and many other items may see white stains rather than dark stains. These are stains deep within the enamel. Enamel microabrasion is an option.
This cosmetic dentistry treatment involves removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth’s surface. The dentist then works on the tooth decoloration caused by defects in the enamel. They use both chemicals and tools to remove stains.
Enamel microabrasion is safe when done by a qualified dental professional. It uses phosphoric and hydrochloric acids mixed with a mild abrasive as a paste to remove the tiny outer layer of enamel. The amount removed is the minimal amount required to rid your tooth of stains.
The painless procedure takes an hour or less. Patients can experience tooth sensitivity for the first day after the procedure.
Weak Teeth
Some patients have teeth that are susceptible to staining and need strengthening. This can lead to white spots on teeth. A good procedure to correct this and strengthen teeth is resin infiltration.
Resin is the basic component of plastic and is used in many dental applications including implants, fillings, and dentures. It is a fantastic material to use in situations where a stain could develop into something worse because of weakened teeth.
This procedure is a minimally invasive cosmetic process that falls into restoring teeth. A dentist will start by etching the tooth with hydrochloric acid and using an ethanol solution to dry it.
They will then apply resin to reinforce the tooth enamel. The resin fills pores. That strengthens the tooth but also minimizes discoloration. It looks like natural teeth and makes teeth look more consistent in color. The best part is that shots and dental drills are not needed for the procedure.
This procedure hardens enamel, making your teeth stronger and more protected against bacteria.
Another Option in Bonding
Those who have repeated problems with dental fluorosis or other visible dental issues may want to consider dental bonding. Bonding uses materials to fix tooth imperfections like cracks and chips. It can also be used to cover white spots over teeth.
Bonding will improve your appearance but won’t resolve the white spots. They are still there but will be hidden. That means you need to have your dentist address what is causing them to remedy any oral health issues before getting dental bonding.
What To Do First
The first thing anyone concerned about white spots on their teeth is to set up an appointment for a dental exam. A dentist can tell you why you have the spots and offer the best solution for your case. An exam also gives you a chance to ask questions and learn more about how to prevent white spots in the future.
