We all want white teeth. So, we do whatever we can to maintain our perfectly looking teeth, including good oral hygiene and regular dental care. However, some people experience having a white stain or blotch that is a different shade and whiter from the rest of the teeth. And this cause trouble for many of us.
This is called white spots on teeth, or technically called as white spot lesions. These white spots on teeth should not be ignored as they may be the first sign of tooth decay at times, which can be reversed if treated quickly and properly.
Causes range from poor oral hygiene, having too much fluoride on teeth, weak tooth enamel, a lack of calcium in the diet, to consuming too many acidic foods, or even wearing braces.
1. Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene throughout the tooth structure can cause demineralization and lead to white spots appearing on the teeth. The teeth are made up of many minerals, and a strong coating of enamel covers them. Bad dental hygiene can cause bacteria to build up in the mouth resulting to bacterial plaque accumulation and causing acidic compounds to weaken the enamel of the teeth.
2. Wearing Braces
Wearing braces may cause plaque buildup around the orthodontic bands and brackets that can result in clear white blotches in the teeth.
3. Eating Acidic Foods
If you have a diet high in acidic foods, you are more likely to develop white spots on your teeth under the hard enamel. Accumulation of acid can thin the enamel in your oral cavity and cause decalcification in your teeth. Acidic food include citrus juices, soft drinks, wine, citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, and dairy products such as yogurt, sour cream, and aged cheese.
4. Consuming Sugary Drinks
It's a well-known fact that too much sugar is bad for your teeth and drinking sugary beverages. Sugar drinks, however, might be to blame on your teeth for white patches. Sugar also causes damage to your teeth's protective enamel, causing them to appear white.
5. Too Much Fluoride
When too much fluoride is ingested while teeth still form, a condition called fluorosis occurs. While many dentists believe fluoride is important for healthy teeth, many recent scientific studies have highlighted the dangers of fluoride in water.
6. Celiac Disease
The presence of white spots under the tooth enamel is one side effect of celiac disease. Celiac disease is a gluten allergy and can cause tissue damage due to malabsorption in the body of essential nutrients. This may cause hypoplasia of the enamel and other defects in the structure of the tooth.
7. Enamel Hypoplasia
Another cause of white spots on teeth is a tooth defect called Enamel Hypoplasia. It is a condition where there is thinner enamel than normal, according to the Indian Journal of Dentistry. Aside from white spot lesions, it can result from hereditary factors, vitamin deficiencies, medications given to a mother before the birth, trauma to teeth, and preterm births.
1. Use Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste
Most studies suggest using toothpaste to remineralize your teeth in situations where decalcification has caused white spots to appear in your teeth.
2. Try Eggshell Toothpaste
You can also make an eggshell toothpaste to help eliminate white stains and lines from your teeth and remineralize your teeth. Eggshells contain high volumes of calcium and other essential minerals for healthy teeth.
3. Avoid Foods that Damage Tooth Enamel
You should avoid foods that weaken tooth enamel if you have a problem with white spots on your teeth. As mentioned in this article, acidic and sucrose foods weaken the protective layer on your teeth and it may result in the emergence of even more cavities and white teeth spots.
4. Eat Right for Healthy Teeth
As well as avoiding or limiting certain foods that have a negative impact on your mouth's health, you can include certain foods that help boost dental health. This can ensure you don't have a mineral deficiency that can lead to white spots on your teeth.
5. Do Oil Pulling
The Ayurvedic technique of oil pulling helps eliminate a buildup of plaque from teeth and prevent cavities forming. Oil pulling requires swishing around the mouth for 15-20 minutes 2 tablespoons of high-quality organic cold-pressed oil. This helps to prevent white spots on teeth, pull toxins from saliva and acts as an antiseptic mouthwash.
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