What are white spots on teeth?
A perfect white tooth is what we all wish to have and do whatever we can to keep our smile as white as possible. Brushing regularly or sometimes twice daily, having regular dental cleanings, and using teeth-whitening products. Despite our best efforts, discolourations like white blotches form on the teeth.
The appearance of a chalky white spot on our tooth is the earliest sign of a carious lesion, known as tooth decalcification.
Now let’s get to know what could cause these white spots on our teeth:
Now let’s get to know what could cause these white spots on our teeth:
Hypoplasia/hypo calcification/hypomineralization
Our teeth by birth are made up of a layer of enamel containing lots of minerals. Having less enamel than normal due to loss of minerals caused due to nutritional deficiency is the reason. Pits are formed on the tooth surface and because they are porous, the tooth is more susceptible to staining and dental decay. If this dental decay left untreated it would cause severe infection and will lead to extraction of the tooth which will be replaced by a dental implant. There are very few centres which provide best dental implant in India, our’s is one among them.
Fluorosis
Fluoride which usually helps in strengthening our teeth can also cause these white spots when taking in too much fluoride in our system. This typically occurs for children between 6 months and 5 years. While Fluorosis does not damage the teeth, it just creates this often uneven, spotted look to the teeth. Hence parents would not be much worried but just schedule a quick visit to one of our centres.
Brace demineralization/decalcification
Wearing braces helps you correct your tooth alignment but you are also susceptible to decalcification as the fittings offer up lots of food particles and bacteria to become trapped and allow plaque to build up, which eats up the tooth surface and the spots and marks become more visible when the brace is removed. This could again be completely avoided by simply following our oral hygiene recommendations and choosing the right type of braces.
Poor oral hygiene/heavy plaque accumulation
Our Dentist at Dr.Smilez, which remains to be one of the best Clinic in Chennai, always recommends you to brush your teeth twice daily for not more than 2 minutes and floss regularly. If for some reasons, you miss following our advice, it results in a sticky substance being formed by bacteria. As the plaque grows, it builds up and slowly eats away at the nutrients and enamel on the tooth surface causing the demineralization process.
Celiac disease
A weak immune system sometimes causes disruption in what and how nutrients are absorbed commonly known as celiac. Celiacs are more prone to white spots.
Genetics
If white spots run in the family, you are more susceptible to being affected too, due to your genetic makeup.
Dry mouth/ Xerostomia:
Medications that we take in for several reasons, sometimes causes the mouth to dry, https://xanaxtreatanxiety.com. With no adequate saliva production, acids that erode tooth enamel don’t neutralize and therefore begin wearing down.
We recommend you the following oral practices to avoid white spots on your shiny teeth:
●Brush twice a day for 2 minutes.
●Floss regularly – Be sure to floss and clean interdental spaces once a day
●Reduce sugars and acids
●Eat meals rather than snacks.
●If you have children, follow our professional advice on how much fluoride-containing toothpaste should be used on your child.
Here are some options to discuss with your dentist:
Microabrasion
This procedure involves gently removing a thin layer of surface enamel, thereby improving the appearance of your teeth. Microabrasion is often combined with tooth-whitening treatments for a truly high-quality aesthetic.
Bleaching
Bleach-based tooth whitening can help balance the colour of your tooth enamel. we recommend either an in-office whitening procedure or a dentist-supervised, take-home kit for your safety. Over-the-counter bleaching products and whitening toothpaste are also available, but the result may take longer.
Porcelain veneers
This is an excellent option when you have significant patches of discolouration that can’t be eliminated with bleaching alone. Custom fabricated with thin layers of ceramic material, veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth. Minimal tooth structure is removed to fit a veneer and the end result is natural-looking teeth that resist future stains. Walk into any of our centres to discuss more these options.
What are Black stain marks on the teeth?
A pearly white smile is a sign of good oral hygiene, but you might notice black teeth stains despite your best efforts. While it’s true that poor cleaning habits can lead to stains, even someone who brushes and flosses regularly can see black stains, depending on their lifestyle and diet.
Teeth may turn black for a number of reasons which we broadly classify into the below 2 factors.
External Causes of Stained Teeth:
Black stain marks on the teeth often come from external causes, that includes:
●Acidic drinks like sodas and sports drinks
●Dark coloured berries and foods and drinks made with them
●Dark-coloured sauces like soy sauce, tomato sauce and curry sauce
●Liquid iron supplements
These black stains on teeth affect our enamel. As the enamel layer weakens, it is more likely to get stained.
Internal Causes of Black Stain marks on the Teeth:
Black stain marks on the teeth may also appear from the inside out. They are much more difficult to remove. This is because intrinsic stains are much deeper in the layers of the tooth. An injury to a tooth can also cause internal black stains.
Here are some options to discuss with your dentist:
●Limiting the number of carbonated drinks.
●swish with water or chew sugarless gum
●Encouraging brushing and flossing teeth twice a day
How will the professional dentist team at Dr.Smilezhelp you:
Dr.Smilez, which is one of the best dental clinics in Chennai has the best resource to determine if black teeth are caused by staining, tartar buildup, or decay. You will need professional help to treat the black teeth, no matter what the cause.
Our dentist will remove the buildup when tartar is the cause. This is typically done by scraping the tartar off the teeth. Our dentist may need to use ultrasonic instruments that use vibration to break up the tartar and make it easier to remove.
If the decay left untreated it would lead to an additional root canal treatment cost.
