Fluorosis can be the reason why your newborn or child’s teeth start developing white patches. This article will explain what fluorosis is, how it grows, how to identify it from the initial stages of dental caries, and, of course, what you can do to get rid of the spots. If your child or baby develops fluorosis, do not worry and contact your Aliso Viejo general dentist for a checkup.
Fluorosis: How Dangerous Is It For Your Baby or Children?
Long-term excessive exposure to a lot of fluoride on teeth may result in fluorosis. Since tooth production is still inadequate in youngsters between the years of two and six, this is particularly true for them. Too much fluoride inhibits teeth from developing dental enamel. In mild cases, this results in minimal white spots on the teeth; in severe cases, the tooth enamel turns yellow and can lead to depressions the size of holes.
Fluorosis typically appears as benign and is only an aesthetic issue. However, because the enamel is so porous due to fluorosis, it can no longer successfully fulfill its initial role of guarding against caries and other harmful factors.
Chronic and Acute Fluorosis
Dentists can distinguish between acute and chronic fluorosis. Fluoride poisoning, or a transient excess of fluoride, is the root cause of acute fluorosis. This may occur, for example, if a young child swallows the entire toothpaste tube and has abdominal discomfort. However, the primary focus of this blog is on chronic fluorosis, which is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive fluoride. A further difference between dental and bone fluorosis is provided here.
- How to identify acute fluorosis
Acute fluorosis symptoms tend to occur in cases of poisoning. Abdominal discomfort, nausea, paleness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation can occur in just a couple of minutes or hours.
- Dental Fluorosis And Bone Fluorosis
The white or brownish patches (previously mentioned) on the teeth are a sign of dental fluorosis. On the contrary, bone fluorosis usually comes from drinking water that has been excessively fluoridated over a long period of time. It can lead the bones and joints to stiffen, restricting movement.
How common is fluorosis?
25% of the world’s population is believed to have different levels of fluorosis. It affects both adults and children. Fluorosis often comes on by drinking fluoridated water or receiving a high dosage of fluoride as a child.
Other factors that may cause white spots on teeth include injury to milk teeth, genetic susceptibility, and antibiotic treatments given during pregnancy or infancy. Parents and children have identical white spots on the same tooth in the same place in around 10% of situations. Chalk teeth can also get discoloration that can vary from white to brown.
