The white spot you see on the surface of your tooth is one of the first signs of tooth decay. Although these lesions don't always appear before a tooth begins to decay, they can act as an early warning sign to help you change your oral habits.

White spot lesions indicate that the enamel layer, a material that is mostly hydroxyapatite crystals, has begun to demineralise. In other words, the surface of the tooth is breaking down from the outside in. Even though your teeth are the hardest and most mineralized substance in the human body, long-term exposure to plaque and poor dietary choices can gradually damage them.



Fortunately, at this stage, white spots aren't serious. However, they could worsen if you fail to take action.

According to research, a white spot can appear a tooth in just four weeks. There are three main causes of white spots on your teeth.
These are:



• Plaque
• Sugar and carbs
• Acidic foods and drinks

Plaque is a biofilm that forms on your teeth during the day. This sticky, rough-feeling substance contains millions of bacterial organisms, many of which contribute to enamel demineralisation. If you skip oral hygiene sessions often, or miss the same area of a tooth consistently while brushing, this plaque, along with the bacteria in it, remains on your tooth enamel.

But bacterial organisms also need to eat. That's where your diet comes into play. Since tooth decay–causing bacteria, such as streptococcus mutans, prefer to eat simple carbs and sugars, if you often eat junk food like doughnuts, cakes and sugary treats, you'll cause them to multiply faster. In addition, they'll do more damage to your teeth.

Tooth decay–causing bacteria damage teeth by depositing an acidic by-product on the tooth enamel that they live on after they eat. This acid gradually demineralises your teeth. And if you also enjoy acidic beverages like cola or lemonade, the ascorbic acid in these drinks will damage your teeth further.

Unfortunately, if you don't change your oral habits, the demineralisation will progress to the point where the white spots become brown spots. Brown spots indicate that bacterial organisms have colonized the damaged areas and are now causing the enamel to decay.

Fortunately, you can arrest tooth demineralisation.

You cannot brush white spots from your teeth. That would only damage them further. Nor can you remove the white spots without the help of a dentist. But you can stop them from getting worse.

In general, white spots form in the areas where plaque has built up, usually in the shape of the plaque formation. Find a good remineralising toothpaste, and be sure to brush the areas where there are white spots on your teeth. Brush gently since you don't want to damage the already-weakened enamel. And be sure to brush twice a day.

Moreover, cut down on the junk foods that might be feeding the tooth decay–causing bacteria in your mouth, such as doughnuts, sweets and processed foods that contain simple sugars and carbs.

If the white spots are bothering you, a dentist may be able to help you. Sometimes, a dentist can use a white filling to cover the white spot and disguise its appearance. And if you choose to have your teeth whitened, a dentist can use micro-abrasion beforehand to remove some of the white spot. This will create a uniform effect.

Have you noticed white spots on your teeth? Then it's time for a dental check-up. Contact Runcorn Dental today to see how they can help you remove white spots.