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What Causes White Spots on Teeth?

What Causes White Spots on Teeth?

White spots on teeth are mostly caused by some sort of acid. It could either be from acidic foods or from plaque buildup in certain are as. Of course, whether or not you get white spots can also depend on genetics and specific situations.

Braces and Plaque: 

White spots on teeth are mostly caused by some sort of acid. It could either be from acidic foods or from plaque buildup in certain areas. Of course, whether or not you get white spots can also depend on genetics and specific situations.

Acidic Foods:

If you get white spots on the tips of your teeth, this is mostly likely caused from eating acidic foods. It can be a product of acid reflex disease as well, but if you don’t have any problems with acid reflex, your diet is probably causing the white spots on the tips of your teeth. If you eat sour candies, citric fruits or vinegary items, the enamel at the tips of your teeth will slowly wear away and create white spots.

Decalcification:

Spots can also be caused by decalcification, which is the loss of calcium salts in the teeth and bones. If your diet lacks calcium, or you have a genetic issue with absorbing calcium, you could be dealing with decalcification.

All in all, white spots on your teeth come down to three main causes: plaque buildup, acidic foods and lack of calcium. Whether it’s genetics, braces or acids, white spots are not always something to worry about. If you’re looking to get rid of these spots, sometimes whitening them will help, but it’s best to talk with your dentist about what option is best and safest for your teeth.

What are Dental Sealants?

What are Dental Sealants?

If you’re looking for a great way to protect your teeth, dental sealants is definitely a way to go. The most common place to get cavities is in your back molars, where there are plenty of grooves and depressions for plaque to hide in. While brushing can certainly help, it can be difficult to scrape the plaque out of those tiny, hidden grooves.

A dental sealant is a thin layer of plastic coating over the chewing surface of a tooth. It fills in those small grooves and decreases the chance of getting a cavity in those hard to brush areas. While it sounds odd to have a plastic sealant over your tooth, it’s hardly noticeable and very helpful. Because it’s so thin, it doesn’t affect how you eat or chew at all. It’s merely there to protect, not to bother.

What are Dental Sealants?

Sealants are applied in a dental office, not at home. But the process is quick and painless, as it only affects the surface of a tooth. The process of getting a sealant will go something like this:

A dental professional will first clean and dry the tooth to prepare it for treatment.
Then, a slightly acidic solution will be used to create a somewhat rough surface on the chewing area of the tooth. The rough surface will help the sealant stick to the tooth so it will last longer and continue to protect your teeth.
A thin layer of liquid plastic material will then be applied to the chewing surface, filling in the grooves and fissures of the tooth.
Most often, blue spectrum natural light will be shone on the plastic in order to cure it. Some sealant material requires curing by a chemical process, but it’s not as common.
After it has been cured, the sealant is hardened and ready to be chewed, chomped and crunched on.

A sealant will last for about five years or more, sometimes reaching up to ten years. It’s also not visible, usually being too thin to notice. So, when you talk, you won’t have any odd colors or materials on your teeth.

Dental Sealants are an easy way to protect your teeth from decay and cavities. The use of fluoride is still encouraged to help strengthen your enamel, but the sealant will keep those grooves and fissures protected from plaque buildup.