However, nowadays it's realized that disrupting (destroying) the surface enamel of a white spot lesion by picking at it will interfere with whatever level of remineralization potential it may have had. Explore our resources for preventing and dealing with white spots on teeth and gums. White Gums around Teeth. For example, some studies have evaluated its use with people who wear dental braces. And for that reason, this technique, if used at all, is practiced much less aggressively than it was historically. CariFree professional products are an excellent tool to consider when attempting to remineralize the tooth surface. It should be stated however that this is a relatively new technique and as such its use as a long-term solution has yet to be documented. With proper care, a white spot lesion need not progress to a full cavity and can be successfully brought back to strong and aesthetically pleasing natural teeth. They may have a brown coloration (a result of picking up stain) and are found in areas where persistent plaque accumulation is not a problem. Aesthetic concerns can be managed by careful tooth whitening to blend the color with the rest of the tooth. The outline of very slight lesions will only be apparent after the tooth's surface has been dried. White spot lesions are frequently found near the gum line (areas that have been difficult to keep plaque-free). White spot lesions resulting from poor home care during orthodontic treatment. Arruda AO, et al. Before we suggest the best ways to get rid of the hard white stuff on your teeth, it is important to first understand how dental calculus forms on your teeth. Another type of dental white spot is caused by an elevated systemic exposure of fluoride during childhood tooth development. Are white spots on the teeth a cause for concern? Of course, the accumulation of plaque is never healthy for the teeth. But without question you need to understand this point: The conditions under which a white spot is visible hints to its level of involvement. The tooth enamel that lies underneath the bracket will remain unchanged. If so, they may not recommend any formal repair but instead suggest that relying on the natural process of tooth remineralization is sufficient for arresting the disease process and restoring the damaged enamel's strength and function. (The tooth with the largest white spot in our picture is a lateral.). If children ingest too much fluoride while their permanent teeth are developing beneath the gum line, their tooth enamel may show signs of fluorosis when the new teeth come in. Are The White Spots on Your Gums Cancer? - Reasons why they form. While some white spot lesions may not require outright repair, their appearance may be objectionable enough that some type of improvement is desired. Any time plaque acids build up on teeth, it will strip away vital minerals from tooth enamel. It's very common to see them form right at a tooth's, In a similar fashion, if you're not flossing well enough (either not as often as you should or you aren't being effective) you may discover that white spots have formed in areas where your. 6 Unexpected Causes of White Spots on Teeth, 3 Simple Ways to Remove White Spots from Your Teeth, Causes and Remedies for White Spots on Gums, Call Us (800) 503-0625Professionals (866) 928-4445, You have requested to view the site. All reference sources for topic Tooth Decay. But bottom line, if no plaque is present, or else is removed in a timely fashion, no white spot lesions will form. Dixon J. (The enamel's history of exposure to fluoride can play a big role in creating this "harder" surface effect.). With dental braces, there's an added problematic twist. While a relatively arbitrary differentiation, as long as the surface lid of the affected area retains enough structural integrity that it remains intact (including when tested by your dentist with their tools), the lesion is still considered a white spot lesion. Another study found a 44.3% reduction in lesions in a group receiving regular applications. A much-cited study from 1982 placed the rate at 50%, whereas more recent investigations (2009 and 2007) placed it in the 73 to 95% range. While none of the approaches above may give perfect results, if passable they can help to avoid the need for an outright repair (such as placing a filling or veneer), and the long-term maintenance required with it. The most important treatment goal with white spot lesions is to arrest the damage process and remineralize the tooth surface before the lesion progresses to full cavitation. (Dixon) (Fluoride products must be. Preventing further damage or a recurrence of the lesion is vital to continued tooth health. Cause of hard white stuff When you don’t maintain your dental health properly, plaque and tartar starts to slowly build up on the teeth … / Pictures. With higher-risk patients, the use of a (higher concentration) prescription product may be indicated. As the demineralization process takes place, the affected area begins to lose some of its mineral content. Are you sure? After their evaluation, your dentist may decide that at this point just minimal damage has occurred to your tooth and your lesion's potential for further advancement is minimal. "what are the white lines on my gums?" One newer approach for treating white spots involves first etching the lesion's surface with an acid conditioner and then bonding a flowable tooth-colored dental restorative into and over it. The formation of white-spot lesions can be especially troublesome for dental patients who wear conventional bracket-and-wire (fixed) braces. E-Commerce Web Design by. In separate papers, both Arruda and Dixon discussed studies that had evaluated the prevalence of white spot lesions among orthodontic patients. Then, in descending order, the canines (eyeteeth), 1st premolars, 2nd premolars and then the central incisors. The short answer is yes. [Studies show that placing braces correlates with an increase in the patient's level of dental plaque accumulation and a higher percentage of the, While the time needed for formation will vary with the local conditions at each specific site, studies suggest that white spot lesions can form in as little as a month. (Either dental amalgam or. White spots on the gums have many causes. White … Close examination shows the white spot is dull, lacking the natural luster of healthy teeth. Calcium phosphate products (including amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), casein phosphopeptide-ACP, calcium sodium phosphosilicate, and tricalcium phosphate) release both calcium and phosphate ions that may then aid with the remineralization process of tooth enamel. It may be possible to use teeth-whitening treatments to mask the appearance of white spots. Cancel. Ignoring what you see or making an uninformed decision on your own can result in significant tooth damage. Another gauge of the level of damage that has taken place that a dentist might use is to see if the tooth's surface is still hard, smooth and intact. / Treatment solutions. If so, their use may help to inhibit the formation of white spot lesions. Reference links added. If instead portions of the lid have broken down and have resulted in a substantial break in the continuity of the tooth's surface or an outright hole, the lesion is then considered a cavity. Using an over-the-counter fluoridated toothpaste (the best fluoridated toothpastes) or mouth rinse (like 0.05% sodium fluoride rinse) can be an effective way to get an adequate exposure. Ask doctors free. This acid then strips minerals from the tooth enamel, causing unhealthy and unappealing white spots. As the surface and subsurface changes progress, they affect the optical (light-handling) properties of the enamel. The patient's teeth that are most affected are typically the upper front ones (15%). One found a 7.4% incidence rate for white spot formation when the varnish was applied every 6 weeks vs. a 25.3% rate for the placebo group. The white, rough looking surface is a demineralized, weakened spot on the tooth enamel. Are white spots on the teeth a cause for concern? As mentioned above, some types of compounds help to promote the remineralization process and their use can play an important role in tipping the conditions in a person's mouth toward those of repair instead of continued destruction. Initially, the greatest amount of damage takes place at a level just below the tooth's surface (10 to 15 microns, which is about 1/10th the width of a human hair). Deeper lesions (those having a greater degree of damage due to demineralization) will tend to block a greater amount of light as it passes through the tooth. Beyond the simplistic techniques just discussed, many dentists will have some type of specialized, high-tech device that when held to the tooth can help them to determine the current status of its white spot lesions (differentiate between a lesion that just requires minimal or conservative treatment vs. an outright cavity). What if you suddenly see white spots or white lines near your gums? Wearing fixed appliances makes it exceedingly difficult for a person to clean their teeth. If this solution is offered, the patient must understand that the healed lesion will forever remain as a chalky-white scar on their tooth, although its surface should regain its lost shininess. The white, rough looking surface is a demineralized, weakened spot on the tooth enamel.