Healthy teeth are the secret behind a good smile, and of course, discolored areas of enamel can affect the beautiful smile. Actually, white spots on your teeth can make you feel less self-confident when opening the mouth. Therefore, it is important to learn what causes white spots on teeth in children and adults and how to eliminate these white spots on teeth.

What Causes White Spots On Teeth In Children And Adult

Now, in this article, we will show you some of the common causes of white spots on teeth. So, if you want to know more about health facts and what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children, keep your eyes on this article for good.

Read also: 20 Natural Home Remedies for Sensitive Teeth Pain 

I. Top 19 Causes Of White Spots On Teeth

There are many reasons why white spots occur on your teeth out there that you should spend time discovering; and in this article, we will show you some of the possible causes of these white spots on teeth:

1. Fluorosis

This is the first one on the list of what causes white spots on teeth in children and adult that we want to mention in this article and want all of the readers to know for good.

Fluorosis occurs when most of the fluoride is ingested when teeth are still developing during early childhood. Actually, this often has a combination of some sources such as some certain supplements and excessive fluoridated water. Swallowing toothpaste, drinking fluoridated water and using fluoride tablets can contribute to this dental condition. We all know that fluoride can help make our teeth more resistant to decay, but excessive amounts of fluoride are just hazardous. This can cause enamel discoloration; therefore, chalky yellow, white or even brown spots will start appearing on your teeth.

This does not mean that your children have to stop using fluoride. The fact is that fluorosis just occurs when children consume excessive fluoride accidentally. So, you just need to supervise their brushing to prevent this from happening. Also, monitoring your fluoride intake when you are pregnant can help prevent this dental condition from occurring in your own children.

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See more: 41 Home Remedies for Oral Thrush in Infants and Adults 

2. Demineralization

The demineralization of tooth enamel may take place when bacterial plaque accumulates on the teeth. Generally, inadequate brushing is a common cause for the appearance of white spots on the teeth, especially, for people who wear braces because they cannot remove bacterial plaque effectively. And, plaque buildup can be identified by the occurrence of spots that are close to the gum line. White spots of decalcification are permanent, and experts confirm that these white spots can lead to decay if they are not kept clean. Therefore, you need to make sure that you brush your teeth properly and thoroughly in order to avoid the bacterial plaque buildup.

Actually, demineralization is what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children that you should know and then try to take some precautionary measures to reduce the risk of getting discoloration on teeth.

If you want to know some of the best natural treatments for gum disease as well as bad breath, read 20 Useful Home Remedies for Swollen Gums 

3. Consuming Acidic Foods

When it comes to what causes white spots on teeth, you should know that white spots on the tips of the teeth can be caused by consuming acidic foods. Also, this dental problem can result from an acid reflux disease; however, if you have no problem with the acid reflux, your diet may cause white spots on your teeth. In case you consume sour candies, vinegary foods or citric fruits, the enamel at your teeth tips will gradually go away and cause white spots.

Read 43 Foods That Cause Bloating And Swelling In The Stomach to discover the list of foods that can cause some digestive problems such as bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, and gas.

4. Tooth Decay

Like most of the other dental issues, tooth decay may also be what causes white spots on teeth in both children and adults. As we mentioned above, if you have poor dental healthcare, your teeth will start to decay and even cause cavities. Tooth enamel often has a bright white appearance when bacterial decay occurs.

Actually, tooth decay is what causes white spots on teeth in children and adults that you should know and then take a few precautionary measures soon. And, the solution that can help you deal with the change on your teeth’s color is teeth whitening. Also, you should consider applying some other treatments to improve your overall dental health.

Learn More: 27 Natural at Home Remedies for Toothache Pain Relief 

5. Drinking Sugary Drinks

When you are looking for what causes white spots on teeth in both adults and children, you should remember that drinking sugary drinks could cause your teeth to have white spots. There is a fact that drinking sugary drinks is bad for your dental health. These sugary drinks could cause white spots on your teeth. Also, sugar causes damage to your protective enamel on teeth, causing a white stain on your teeth. According to a report, white spots on teeth are commonly seen in those who consume sugary drinks such as citrus juices and fruit juices.

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6. Decalcification

White spots on teeth can be caused due to the loss of calcium salts in both of the bones and teeth, which is known as decalcification. If your daily diet does not have enough calcium, or you have a problem with absorbing calcium, you could be facing decalcification.

See also: 26 Natural Home Remedies for Tooth Infection Pain 

7. Nutritional Deficits

According to a study ^[1], your diet can negatively affect the tooth enamel, causing the teeth to have a different shade. A diet that is deficient in calcium may affect the healthy enamel. Actually, a few minerals that are a part of the healthy diet could help with the buildup of tooth enamel. Not having enough minerals can cause white spots on your teeth. Interestingly, people with celiac disease cannot absorb nutrients and have white spots on their teeth.

8. Genetics

Like other physical aspects, genetics is also a cause of white spots on teeth. Therefore, if your other family members also have white spots on teeth, you should be careful with your dental health. Actually, genetics is also on the list of what causes white spots on teeth in children and adults that you should not look down.

9. Braces Removal

When you have worn braces for a long time, the areas where your braces were can have a different shade. Usually, this will not occur, but in some cases, this can be an unwanted side effect. It may depend on the time you have worn your braces and the plaque buildup underneath the metal placed. If this occurs, the best solution for you is teeth whitening.

10. Poor Oral Hygiene

According to a study about tooth discoloration causes and prevention ^[2], poor oral hygiene can cause white spots on teeth. The fact is that the teeth are made of several minerals and they are protected by a layer of enamel. When you follow a poor dental hygiene, the bacteria buildup in your mouth could increase, causing acidic compounds to negatively affect the tooth enamel.

A study found that a lack of teeth brushing can cause acidic properties to erode the tooth’s surface. Also, this can affect the mineral content that is necessary for the teeth and cause some areas in the teeth to become whiter.

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11. Bacteria Overgrowth

Bacteria love to grow in the environment that is high in acid resulting from eating. Actually, the poor brushing technique allows the bacteria to keep flourishing. Braces and other items in dental appliances can make us find harder to brush well. Therefore, it is important to brush the teeth well, especially when wearing braces.

In fact, bacteria overgrowth is also what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children that you should know and then try to follow a good oral hygiene routine in order to prevent the bacterial growth in your mouth.

See also: 26 Natural Home Remedies for Mouth Ulcers in Adults 

12. Tooth Bleaching

When it comes to what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children, tooth bleaching can result in the discoloration of your teeth. In fact, using bleaching products can cause whiter spots under the tooth enamel. This occurs as the bleaching properties negatively affect the protective enamel layer on teeth. Experts recommended that after you bleach your teeth, use a remineralizing toothpaste in order to build up the mineral content that is necessary for your teeth and simultaneously improve the tooth enamel. Actually, this can help in repairing any damage to the tooth enamel and preventing white spots from reoccurring on your teeth.

13. Smoking While Pregnant

We all know about side effects of smoking and according to a research about ways to keep mouth and teeth healthy ^[3], smoking can have negative effects on dental health. Especially, pregnant smokers have the higher risks of damaging their unborn baby’s teeth. So, avoiding tobacco while pregnant may be a great solution to prevent their children’s teeth from being damaged.

Do you want to know what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children? Keep reading this entire article to determine the exact reason for the discoloration of your teeth.

14. High Fevers

Another one on the list of what causes white spots on teeth in children and in adults that you should not look down is high fevers. For children, a high fever can cause some white spots on teeth, associated with the loss of minerals on these spots. Therefore, make sure that your children brush their teeth well, especially when they have fevers. Even, a gentle use of the toothbrush and plain water can rehydrate their dry mouth and simultaneously remove plaque acids.

Read more: 30 Natural Home Remedies for Canker Sores in the Mouth 

15. Some Medicines

Medicines can help us treat several health problems and make us healthy. Unluckily, some medicines have been found to cause white spots on teeth. Therefore, some certain antibiotics are not recommended for use in children. If you are pregnant or nursing, make sure to share that information with your doctor so that he or she can prescribe proper medication for you. Also, you do not share prescriptions with others and just use prescribed medicines. If you have white spots on teeth after medical treatment, you should see your dentist for help.

16. Dry Mouth

The decreased amount of saliva may make it harder to neutralize the acidic plaque. When pH level is improper, bacteria could grow and attack your teeth. And this could affect the tooth enamel, causing white spots on your teeth.

There are many other surprising ones on the list of what causes white spots on teeth that you should know revealed in this article, so you should continue to read this entire article and then learn something from that.

17. Celiac Disease

According to a study about causes of white spots on teeth ^[4], a negative side effect of celiac disease is the white spots occurring under the tooth enamel. Actually, celiac disease is known as an intolerance to gluten and can cause tissue damage because of malabsorption of nutrients in the body. This disease can result in enamel hypoplasia as well as other abnormalities in the structure of your teeth.

According to a study, celiac disease can result in brown, yellow or white spots on teeth. Also, it can lead to dry mouth syndrome. The lack of saliva in your mouth can lead to white patches on teeth as well.

Learn also: 36 Natural Home Remedies for Tonsillitis in Toddlers & Adults 

18. Sleeping With The Mouth Open

You may notice the appearance of white spots on the teeth in the morning after you wake up and this could go away after a couple of hours. To explain for this condition, experts found that this is caused by sleeping with the mouth open all night and white spots that you notice are caused by dehydration of the enamel teeth’s surface. When the saliva hits your teeth, they will rehydrate and your white spots will go away. According to a study, being sick can make you sleep with the mouth open.

19. Teeth Whitening Strips

This is the last one on the list of what causes white spots on teeth in children and adults that we want to reveal in this entire article. Teeth whitening strips are strips that can be made up of plastic, which is pasted to the teeth. They could cause white spots on your teeth, especially if you use these strips for whitening the teeth, but leave them on there for longer intervals. These strips are high in acidic content; therefore they could demineralize the tooth enamel.

II. How To Get Rid Of White Spots On Teeth

To clean up white spots on teeth, the first thing you should do is to treat the root of your dental problem. Some approaches can help you get rid of white spots on teeth. However, the best solution for you may depend on the severity of your dental condition. Just regular brushing is not enough to eliminate the discoloration on your teeth. Some options for you to choose from:

• Microabrasion: In this procedure, the dentist will remove a thin layer of your surface enamel. This procedure is also combined with treatments of tooth-whitening.
• Polishing: It uses a mild abrasive to help you get rid of discoloration on your teeth.
• Bonding: For deeper spots, this technique can help in removing the affected areas on your teeth, and repairing with dental bonding
• Bleaching: This procedure can help balance your tooth enamel’s color. Over-the-counter bleaching products as well as whitening toothpastes can be your choices to whiten your teeth at home; however, the result may take you time.
• Porcelain veneers: This option is a great option when you have large white spots on teeth that cannot be removed by using bleaching products alone. They are most used in the front of the teeth in order to create a stain-resistant surface.
• Oil pulling: This technique can help in removing the plaque buildup from teeth and simultaneously preventing cavities from occurring. It involves in swishing 2 tbsp. of organic oil around the mouth for about 15- 20 minutes. Actually, this technique can help to prevent white spots from occurring on teeth and remove toxins from saliva.

Check also: 27 Natural at Home Remedies for Gingivitis 

III. How To Keep White Spots On Teeth Away

During pregnancy, if you want to prevent this dental condition, talk with your dentist about your fluoride intake and medications you are taking that could affect your child's developing teeth. Also, if you are a smoker, it is a good time to quit smoking. Children younger than 6 years old can have these white spots too. So, make sure that they use only small amounts of fluoride toothpaste and they will not swallow it. Plus, if the tap water is fluoridated, discuss your fluoride supplement requirement with your dentist.

If your child is wearing dental braces ^[5], you should help them brush these wires and brackets regularly to prevent white spots from ruining their teeth. To get an extra protection, you should use a remineralizing toothpaste.

Keep in mind that you should not let discoloration keep you from smiling. Knowing what causes white spots on teeth in children and adults is very important before finding out the best solution for you to get rid of this dental condition and prevent it from reoccurring in the future.

Moreover, you should avoid consuming foods that could damage tooth enamel such as acidic and sugary foods. Also, you should consume more foods that help in boosting dental health. This can ensure that you do not have a mineral deficiency. Some great foods for dental health are nuts, cheeses, chicken, green vegetables fruits and milk.

Learn more: 40 Foods We Eat at Wrong Hours that Harm our Health 

After reading this entire article, we hope that you can determine what causes white spots on teeth in adults and children and then find the best solution to deal with it. After that, we hope that you can read another related article that reveals some of the natural ways to whiten teeth at home – the 37 Best Natural Home Remedies to Whiten Teeth Quickly article. Actually, this is an interesting article that includes some of the natural treatments for whitening teeth. All of these natural treatments can help you whiten your teeth naturally at home without causing any side effect. Therefore, if you have discoloration on your teeth and want to whiten them at the comfort of your own home, consider applying one or more of these natural treatments  for good.
This article today revealed 19 common causes of white spots on teeth that you should know and then try to see a dentist as soon as possible if you want to get rid of this dental health effectively. If you think that this list can help other people around you who are wondering what causes white spots on teeth, feel free to share this list with them as soon as possible. One more thing, if you know other causes of white spots on teeth, remember to visit AllRemedies.com and then share them with others by leaving your comments in the comment box below.