A common reason that people seek cosmetic dentistry solutions such as teeth whitening is fluorosis. Fluorosis is the appearance of white spots, marks, or stains on the teeth that are caused by childhood overexposure to fluoride. These stains can be difficult to remove, but is teeth whitening the only solution?
In a previous Parkcrest Dental Group blog, we went over the basics of what fluorosis is. In this follow-up, we’re going to examine whether there are any ways to treat or mitigate the signs of fluorosis that aren’t just reliant on teeth whitening.
Home kits to whiten your teeth are readily available and designed to be relatively simple and quick to use. The potential issue here is that the kind of chemicals used to whiten your teeth can also damage them with overexposure and improper use. They can also cause painful damage to your gums.
Better kits can also be pricey and still require care and proper attention. It also might not help your fluorosis. In the majority of cases, if fluorosis is visible then it’s already deep-set. Home teeth whitening might help cover some of the stains, but it won’t solve the issue long-term.
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Yes, with baking soda toothpaste.
Another way to remove or reduce the stains from fluorosis is to use a more coarse or abrasive type of toothpaste. Baking soda-based toothpastes are widely available and they usually contain tiny grains or particles to scrub debris and stubborn buildup from your teeth. However, much like home whitening kits, this won’t solve the core issue. Baking soda or similarly abrasive toothpastes will only help with minimal stains or discoloration over time and won’t do much to help the deep stains of fluorosis.
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Yes, you can.
What we eat can affect the color of our teeth. We all know that coffee, tea, and most kinds of soda can stain our teeth over time. But can changing what foods and drinks teeth are exposed to eliminate stains?
You might find blogs or articles online claiming that eating certain health foods or super-foods will help reduce stains — even from long-term issues like fluorosis — through various factors, but the evidence is scant. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be careful about what you eat and how it affects your teeth, but you also shouldn’t expect any food to be a miracle cure for issues like this.
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Unfortunately, there aren’t really any quick and simple fixes for fluorosis. The stains caused by overexposure to fluoride tend not to show up until people are older, and by then the damage is done. But there are teeth whitening methods that can help to cover up the white spots caused by fluorosis. For professional help with this or any other dental issue, contact Parkcrest Dental Group or call (417) 887-1220 today.
