Dental fluorosis: Learn about its causes and treatment

Fluorescent tooth pigmentation

Dental fluorosis is the appearance of white or yellowish-brown lines or spots on the teeth, which causes a cosmetic problem that may affect your self-confidence. It can be treated in Turkey in many ways.

Fluorescent tooth pigmentation appears in the form of white lines or spots on the teeth as a result of excessive consumption of fluoride for a long time for those in the first childhood stage under the age of eight during the growth of teeth under the gums, because once the tooth erupts in the mouth from the gums, it is not possible for the fluorescent tooth pigmentation to occur.

What does dental fluorosis look like?

A Dental fluorosis The appearance of staining ranges from dull, unnoticeable white tooth pigmentation to dark brown pigmentation and roughness and fissures on the enamel that make brushing difficult.

We see inconspicuous white spots on the teeth due to the presence of a slight fluorescent tooth pigmentation, which does not need treatment
We see inconspicuous white spots on the teeth due to the presence of a slight fluorescent tooth pigmentation, which does not need treatment

In most cases, fluorescent tooth pigmentation does not have any effect or harm; on the contrary, due to the positive role of fluoride in Prevent caries And to reduce sensitivity, this is why do many doctors advise gel treatments fluoride varnish in children and adults.

But for those who take fluoride in childhood without supervision and pressure during the stage of tooth formation, fluorosis may occur, and the person's confidence in his smile may begin to be affected, especially if it is placed Pigmentation on the front teeth Clearly, which prompts him to search for a way to hide it.

Medium-intensity fluorescent pigmentation that affects the aesthetic aspect of the teeth
Medium-intensity fluorescent pigmentation that affects the aesthetic aspect of the teeth

Most of the time, the fluoride staining of the teeth is mild and is only noticed by the dentist during the examinations. The higher the fluoride dose, the more severe the condition. In severe tooth pigmentation, it may appear:

  1. tooth surface roughness
  2. Largely visible dental fissures
  3. Teeth are stained brown to yellow
Severe dental fluorescent pigmentation on the front teeth
Severe dental fluorescent pigmentation on the front teeth

Causes of dental fluorosis

One of the most important reasons for fluoride teeth to become white or brown is the consumption of dental products that contain fluorine, such as mouth rinses and fluoride toothpastes, in childhood, while the permanent teeth are forming. Often times, a child likes the taste of fluoride toothpaste and swallows it instead of spitting it out.

Dental fluorosis also occurs in people who took higher doses of fluoride than prescribed by a doctor during childhood or when it was taken in areas where drinking water was highly fluoridated.

In the event that a child takes excessive doses of fluoride over a short period of time, fluorosis may occur, which manifests itself with other symptoms other than the fluoride pigmentation of the teeth, which are:

  1. nausea
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Abdominal pain
  4. vomiting

Dental fluorosis treatment in Turkey

A person often searches for ways to remove fluorosis because of its effect on the aesthetic aspect of a smile.

In cases of mild, unnoticed fluorescent tooth pigmentation, there is no need for any procedure. In severe pigmentation, there are many options to deal with the condition, most of which depend on covering the pigmentation site, including:

Teeth whitening

surgeryTeeth whitening A role in removing discoloration and making it more white, which makes the pigmentation inconspicuous and merges with the tooth's color. To get quick results, you can try Laser teeth whitening Professionally done in Istanbul, this is an option for light fluorescent pigmentation treatment.

The photo above shows light fluorescent white teeth stains, and in the second photo, the stains have become blurred due to teeth whitening.
The photo above shows light fluorescent white teeth stains, and in the second photo, the stains have become blurred due to teeth whitening.

Composite and bonding

used substance Cosmetic Composite Commonly called a dental filling by dentists, this material is the same color as the tooth and bonds to the enamel, helping to cover the discoloration affected by fluorosis.

Dental crowns

Treatment of severe fluorescent tooth pigmentation by covering the pigmentation sites with dental crowns

Brown and severely pigmented teeth are treated by covering them entirely with toothpaste crowns Or as it is known as veneers, this method requires the removal and preparation of parts of the tooth for the crown to settle in its place.

Dental veneers

Dental veneers They are similar to crowns, which are thin faces that are custom made by the dentist, but they require less removal of the tooth structure and cover the front surface of it only. You can contact us to guide you towards the most skilled doctors in Turkey.

Before/after covering teeth pigmentation using cosmetic veneers
The picture below shows the shape of the discolored teeth after covering them with cosmetic veneers

Enamel erosion

In this method, the dentist cools down some of the enamel to remove stains.

MI paste

It is a calcium phosphate paste characterized by its ability to treat tooth discoloration.

Tips for preventing dental fluorosis

The most important advice for preventing fluorosis is for parents to monitor what their child eats.

You should find out the levels of fluoride in the water you drink by asking your dentist or your local water supplier.

If you depend on well water or bottled water, you can find out the percentage of flo present by taking a sample for examination in specialized laboratories.

Once you are able to determine the amounts of fluoride your child is taking in food and drinks, you will be able, with the help of your dentist, to determine whether or not you need to take fluoride from additional sources.

Don't forget to keep the fluoride products around Types of toothpaste Mouthwashes and other things are out of the reach of your children without your supervision. Teach your child to put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when brushing and ensure that he spits it out after he is done instead of swallowing it.

As an additional precaution, avoid using flavored toothpaste for children that stimulate them to swallow.

Dental fluorosis is not a disease but a condition that may affect the beauty of your smile. If fluorosis and discoloration of your teeth embarrass you or reduce your self-confidence, do not hesitate to contact your dentist, who will help you find the perfect solution.

 

Sources

  1. American Dental Association
  2. ScienceDirect
  3. WebMD 

Frequently Asked Questions

Tooth decay permanently damages the enamel layer, leading to a hole in your tooth that needs to be repaired. While staining teeth is limited to a change in color.

Tooth discoloration can occur either due to cavities or due to fluorosis, as a result of increased consumption of fluoride-rich substances during childhood.

When suffering from fluorosis, white spots or lines may appear on the teeth. The use of teeth whitening helps to remove pigmentation from the enamel and restore its color so that the fluorescent pigmentation areas of the teeth become less clear.
Excessive exposure to fluorine-containing products at an early age is a cause of fluorosis and the appearance of white or brown spots on the enamel of a person's teeth later on, called fluoride staining.
You should take care and supervise the process of brushing your child's teeth to ensure that he does not swallow the toothpaste that usually contains fluoride in large quantities constantly, which may cause fluorosis.
Dental fluoride is very commonly found as tablets that can be taken orally, as you can find in most types of toothpaste and even mouthwashes.
And you can get fluoride professionally in the clinic in the form of a coating called fluoride varnish that is applied to the tooth enamel with a brush to treat tooth sensitivity and ensure protection from decay.

If you are planning for treatment in Turkey
you can talk to us here.

If you are planning for treatment in Turkey
you can talk to us here.

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