Everyone loves to have white, sparkling teeth that exude excellent oral health. But that whiteness should be even, not come in little dots all over the front surface of the teeth. Why are those white spots even there, and why is your more rigorous brushing not getting rid of them. It almost seems like…brushing it making it worse! Well, you may or may not be inadvertently making it worse. Let’s find out.

Common Causes of White Spots

One possible cause is enamel demineralization, which is a fancy term for happens when the enamel loses essential minerals. Another contributor is fluorosis, which occurs from consuming too much fluoride during childhood. Enamel hypoplasia, where the enamel doesn’t form properly, can also lead to white spots.

The Impact of Brushing Too Hard

Brushing your teeth too aggressively can damage your enamel. When you brush too hard, it wears down the enamel, making it thinner and more prone to demineralization. Maybe consider using less elbow grease!

How Diet Plays a Role

What’s on your dinner plate and cups also play a role in white spot formation. Acidic foods and drinks, like soda and citrus fruits, can erode enamel, making it easier for white spots to develop. Sugary snacks also feed bacteria in your mouth, which produce acids that attack your enamel. A diet rich in calcium can help keep your teeth strong and reduce the risk of enamel damage.

Treatment Options

Treatments for white spots depend on their cause. Fluoride treatments can help re-mineralize early enamel damage, while professional whitening or microabrasion can reduce the appearance of spots. But if you really want to protect your teeth and get rid of the “spotty look” permanently, you might want to try dental veneers in Gilbert, AZ.