Index
Teeth problems affect us in a number of ways. In addition to being able to directly affect our health and the way we live, many people are literally obsessed with maintaining a white smile. And when unwanted blemishes appear, it is possible that there are doubts and concerns. Often, stains on the teeth can be a sign that there is fluorosis . But what is this condition and why does it leave such stains? If you have these doubts, read the text to the end and find out everything you need to know about fluorosis.
What is Fluorosis?
Also known as dental fluorosis, this is a condition characterized by excess fluoride in the teeth . Fluoride is a chemical element that is usually extremely welcome in the fight against cavities and to keep your teeth cleaner and more beautiful. However, it is possible that there are excesses, which ends up causing fluorosis to develop.
Fluorosis can affect anyone, but it is especially delicate when we talk about children, which causes the so – called infant fluorosis . This is because children have more fragile teeth and less enamel, which makes fluoride more effective on them.
Fluorosis Symptoms
Identifying fluorosis is not a very difficult task, since the disease has some very specific characteristics, such as:
- Small white or black spots on teeth
- Stains on several teeth
- Emergence of lines in the teeth
- Small holes in the teeth
If you experience any of these symptoms or identify them in your child, it is important to visit a dentist as soon as possible to start treatment and prevent fluorosis from further worsening the appearance of your teeth.
Causes of Fluorosis
We have already said that dental fluorosis is caused by excess fluoride in the teeth, which ends up wearing out the enamel and making them increasingly fragile and subject to stains, punctures or even wear. But how does this excess fluoride occur? Well, this can happen in several ways, such as:
- Ingestion of certain medications
- Excessive consumption of industrialized products
- Excessive brushing with a lot of fluoride toothpaste
- Excessive consumption of fluoridated water
It is especially important to pay attention to the type of food or medicine that a child eats , as they have more fragile teeth and are therefore more likely to have fluorosis.
How to treat Fluorosis?
Fluorosis is a condition that does not tend to go away , even if a child gets older and years pass. However, it is possible to control the disease relatively easily so that a person can have a completely normal life even with fluorosis.
There are several types of treatment for this condition and the right type for each case will depend on several factors, such as:
- The severity of fluorosis
- The patient’s age
- The number of teeth affected by fluorosis
The microdermabrasion is one of the most used treatments for fluorosis. This process basically consists of wearing the teeth only superficially so that the stained region is removed. It is a little invasive method and it usually works very well. One of the side effects of this type of treatment is teeth whitening, which ends up being positive, especially when we talk about the aesthetic issue.
If fluorosis is more serious, it is possible that a dentist will adopt more invasive methods, such as the placement of porcelain veneers or even dental crowns, depending on the case, of course.
It is worth mentioning that, in milder cases and in which the symptoms are practically not noticeable, a treatment may not be necessary, although a patient may want to do it for aesthetic reasons.
Fluorosis Prevention
The general rule of thumb to avoid the emergence of fluorosis is the adoption of good oral hygiene habits, especially in children. This does not mean simply brushing your teeth very well after all meals, upon waking up and before bed and using dental floss, but also the use of toothpastes suitable for your age . In this way, it does not receive a much greater amount of fluoride and avoids complications.
In addition, it is also important to pay attention to the foods that are eaten and the medicines that are taken. Of course, in cases where medications are sorely needed, it is also important to talk to your dentist so that you can start taking steps to prevent dental fluorosis from affecting you too much.
We all like to have a beautiful smile and to have good looking teeth. But problems like fluorosis are often unavoidable and you need to know how to deal with them so that even worse consequences do not arise. It is important, above all, to pay attention to the oral hygiene habits of children , since they are prone to develop fluorosis more easily and can carry this problem for many years in their life. Problems like this can even be avoided with simple attitudes, but it is necessary to be alert all the time and, above all, to be aware of the dangers that exist when it comes to our teeth.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
