Think of teeth whitening, and you’ll probably imagine removing the yellow stains caused by coffee, tobacco, and the general passing of time. But yellowing teeth aren’t the only forms of discoloration that can spoil your smile. White spots on teeth are less common than general staining, but if anything, they can be even more unsightly, especially if the contrast between the spots and the regular color is large.
To solve the problem of white spots on your teeth, it’s first helpful to know what the causes could be, with four main areas to consider.
1) First Signs of Decay
White spots are often an early symptom of tooth decay, appearing when small patches of the enamel are worn away by bacteria, taking the older, stained layers with them. As the fresher enamel is revealed underneath, white spots are the natural result.
Improvements in dental hygiene may be able to slow down this process, but it’s wise to check with your dentist to make sure early decay is indeed the culprit.
2) Demineralization
As part of the decay process, acid buildup can remove calcium from the enamel, leaving it paler and softer. Acid-based decay is often an uneven process, especially if your brushing isn’t thorough, and the varying rates of calcium loss mean some spots are lighter than others.
3) Fluorosis
Excessive amounts of fluoride can produce white speckles in the tooth enamel. This is rarely due to using fluoride-based toothpaste and more often from high levels of the mineral in drinking water, contaminated foods, or even nutritional supplements used for non-dental reasons. Fluorosis is only caused in young children while the teeth are still developing, and although the white spots it produces are permanent, they can be disguised by cosmetic treatments in later life.
4) Enamel Hypoplasia
The last major cause of spotted teeth is a condition known as hypoplasia, which makes the enamel layer thin and uneven. The spots produced by hypoplasia can be white but are often brown or dark yellow. The condition can be triggered by malnutrition, such as a vitamin D deficiency, viral or bacterial infections, or physical trauma, and is a developmental disorder that’s present from the moment the teeth are formed.
How to Handle White Spots in Your Smile
Whatever the underlying cause, white spots on your teeth can usually be successfully treated cosmetically, with three main options for professional whitening and speckle removal.
- Microabrasion uses a mixture of acid and fine abrasives to remove a thin enamel layer from the treated teeth. In many cases, this will also even out the differences in color, making white spots much less visible.
- Professional bleaching treatments can be done in dental surgery or at home under supervision, and can help disguise spots by lightening all of the enamel to a new, lighter shade.
- Dental veneers are thin slices of porcelain that are fitted over your teeth, completely hiding any blemishes and protecting against future staining. However, veneers aren’t suitable for people with damaged or decaying teeth, and it’s also an expensive option that takes several surgery visits to complete.
While all three of these treatments can successfully improve the look of your teeth, it’s important to discuss the matter with your dentist first. Unless you deal with the underlying causes of the white spots, cosmetic procedures will only provide a short-term solution, and you can expect the discoloration to return sooner rather than later.