What's Causing the White Spots on My Child's Teeth?

We all want our kids to have great smiles. So naturally, if we see white spots on their teeth, we want to know what’s going on.

Here at Reality Bites Dental, we want to assure you that there are completely normal explanations for these spots, and we know how to treat them. They’re actually a fairly common occurrence in our pediatric patients.

Here are a few causes of white spots on your child’s teeth and how they can be treated.

Acidic and sugary diet

Highly acidic foods eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Eating (or drinking) too many acidic foods such as citrus fruits and soda can cause white spots to appear where the enamel has worn away. This also happens with a diet high in sugar, causing a buildup of acidic plaque that damages the enamel on your teeth.

Fluorosis 

If your child’s developing teeth are exposed to too much fluoride, a discoloration of your teeth called fluorosis can occur. This usually happens because kids swallow too much toothpaste or drink too many fluoridated beverages. To avoid this, encourage your kids to spit, not swallow, when they brush their teeth.

Too little enamel

A condition called enamel hypoplasia means your child’s tooth enamel is underdeveloped, which leads to white spots on your child’s teeth. This can be caused by several factors, including premature birth, infections, and genetics.

Too much plaque

If your child has braces, it’s common for plaque to build up around their brackets, causing white spots that show up when the braces come off. Have your children continue to practice good oral hygiene if they have braces, including brushing carefully around the brackets.

Dehydration

If the white spots fade a few hours after waking up, your child is likely sleeping with their mouth open, which causes their front teeth to dry out overnight and develop white dehydration spots. They usually fade as your child drinks more fluid throughout the day.

Treatment options

The best treatment for your child’s teeth depends on what’s actually causing the white spots. Here are a few of the potential options:

Microabrasion

This procedure removes a thin layer of enamel from your teeth to reduce the appearance of the white spots.

Bleaching or tooth whitening

Whitening your teeth as a whole can help hide the appearance of the white spots by brightening the appearance of all your teeth.

Veneers

These thin enamel shells cover your teeth entirely, providing a clean, new look that matches your natural teeth. These usually aren’t recommended for pediatric patients, but they may be used in some cases.

If your child has white spots on their teeth, our team at Reality Bites Dental is happy to help determine the cause. Just call our San Antonio office at 210-399-5951 or use our online scheduler to book your appointment anytime!