The weekend is finally here, and you’ve been looking forward to going out with your friends ever since you woke up on Monday. You’re getting dressed, doing your hair, and answering text messages furiously as plans inevitably change and shift. When you’re finally ready, you flash one last smile in the mirror, and immediately notice…those annoying white spots on your teeth. They’ve been there for a while, and nothing would make you happier than for them to disappear. What even caused them in the first place? Fortunately, a cosmetic dentist in Denver cannot only answer this question, but offer you lasting solutions as well.
What Causes White Spots on the Teeth?
There are two reasons that noticeable white spots can form on the teeth. One is fluorosis, and the other is enamel hypoplasia.
If a child is exposed to too much fluoride at an early age, this can actually cause the surface of the enamel to thicken in places, making certain patches appear brighter and stick out.
Enamel hypoplasia, on the other hand, is the result of someone’s enamel not forming properly. The teeth need to constantly remineralize themselves as they are exposed to corrosive plaque and acids from the foods we eat, but without proper oral hygiene, damage can reach below the surface of the enamel. If someone doesn’t consistently clean their teeth, the outer surface of the enamel might still be able to remineralize, but the underlying plaque and bacteria will remain, making the enamel thinner, and this will lead to a white spot.
How to Get Rid of Them
While there are several home remedies you can find online for how to handle white spots, the best thing to do is simply call your dentist in Denver. They’ll be able to examine your teeth, determine what caused the spots to form in the first place, and they can recommend treatments to make them disappear. These include:
- Enamel Microabrasion: Your dentist removes a tiny amount of enamel to reduce the appearance of a white spot.
- Teeth Whitening: Sometimes, simply bleaching the teeth is all that’s needed to make them a uniform color.
- Dental Bonding: A color-matched composite resin is applied to a tooth to literally cover the white spot.
- Porcelain Veneer: Instead of resin, a thin ceramic shell is fitted to the front of a tooth to conceal any blemishes.
- Topical Fluoride: In cases of enamel hypoplasia, fluoride can encourage the proper development of enamel and reduce the appearance of white spots.
How to Prevent White Spots in the First Place
- Brush and floss your teeth every day to protect the enamel from becoming damaged below the surface. This will also allow the teeth to properly remineralize.
- Reduce your intake of sugary and acidy drinks that can wear down the enamel. These include sodas, energy drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks.
- Visit your dentist for routine checkups and cleanings so they can treat any minor dental damage before a white spot even appears.
With a little help from your dentist, you can quickly make those irritating white spots a thing of the past. That way, the next time you hit the town, the last thing you’ll be thinking about is your teeth!
About the Author
Dr. Jayme Glamm is a general, restorative, and cosmetic dentist who has been serving the Denver community for over a decade. If you’re looking to get rid of white spots on your teeth or improve anything else about your smile, she and the rest of the team at Pearl Dentistry are ready to provide the high-quality care you need. To get in contact, she can be reached through her website.