Problems with our teeth affect us in many ways. Besides directly impacting our health and our way of living, many people are truly obsessed with keeping a white smile. And when unwanted stains appear, it’s natural to have doubts and concerns. Often, stains on the teeth can be a sign of fluorosis. But what is this condition and why does it cause such stains? If you have these questions, read on to the end and discover 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 extremely welcomed in the fight against cavities and to keep your teeth cleaner and more beautiful. However, overuse is possible, which results in the development of fluorosis. Fluorosis can affect anyone, but it is especially a concern when we’re talking about children, causing what is called childhood fluorosis. This happens because children have more fragile teeth and less enamel, making them more susceptible to the effects of fluoride.
Symptoms of Fluorosis
Identifying fluorosis is not very difficult, since the condition has several specific characteristics, such as:
- Small white or black spots on the teeth
- Stains on various teeth
- Appearance of lines on the teeth
- Small holes in the teeth
If you have any of these symptoms or notice them in your child, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible to start treatment and prevent fluorosis from worsening the appearance of the teeth. 
Causes of Fluorosis
We’ve already mentioned that dental fluorosis is caused by excess fluoride in the teeth, which ends up wearing down the enamel and making teeth increasingly fragile and prone to stains, holes, or even more wear. But how does this excess fluoride occur? Well, this can happen in several ways, such as:
- Intake of certain medications
- Excessive consumption of processed foods
- Overbrushing with toothpaste containing too much fluoride
- Excessive consumption of fluoridated water
It is especially important to pay attention to the type of food or medication a child ingests, since their teeth are more fragile and, consequently, more likely to develop fluorosis.
How to treat Fluorosis?
Fluorosis is a condition that does not tend to disappear, even as a child gets older or years go by. However, it is possible to manage the condition 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 approach in each case will depend on several factors, such as:
- The severity of the fluorosis
- The age of the patient
- The number of teeth affected by fluorosis
Microabrasion is one of the most commonly used treatments for fluorosis. This process basically involves superficially wearing down the teeth so that the stained area is removed. It is a minimally invasive method that usually yields excellent results. One of the side effects of this type of treatment is tooth whitening, which ends up being a positive, especially considering aesthetics. If the fluorosis is more severe, it may be necessary for a dentist to use more invasive methods, such as placing porcelain veneers or even dental crowns, depending on the case, of course. It is worth noting that, in milder cases where the symptoms are hardly noticeable, treatment may not be necessary, although a patient may choose to do it for aesthetic reasons.
Prevention of Fluorosis
The general rule to avoid the onset of fluorosis is to adopt good oral hygiene habits, especially for children. This does not simply mean brushing very well after every meal, upon waking up and before going to bed, and using dental floss, but also using age-appropriate toothpaste. This way, the child does not receive too much fluoride and complications are avoided. In addition, it is also important to pay attention to the foods being eaten and the medications being taken. Of course, in cases where medications are extremely necessary, it’s also important to talk to your dentist so you can start taking measures to prevent dental fluorosis from affecting you too much. We all like to have a nice smile and 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 especially important to pay attention to children’s oral hygiene habits, since they are more prone to developing fluorosis and may carry this problem for many years in their lives. Problems like this can even be avoided with simple actions, but you need to stay alert at all times and, above all, be aware of the risks that exist when it comes to our teeth.
