Having a beautiful set of teeth after drug addiction

Fluorosis: What Is It And How Can You Treat It?

by Danielle Fletcher

Sparkling white teeth that brighten your smile is something most people aspire towards. Nonetheless, a considerable amount of people struggle with achieving this for various reasons. Yellowing and overall teeth staining is typically associated with the type of foods you eat as well as habits you engage in such as smoking. However, there are some causes of teeth discolouration that could be out of your control, most commonly being exposed to excessive fluoride. Read on to learn about fluorosis and what you can do to remedy the effects.

What is fluorosis?

Fluorosis is a condition that affects the enamel of your tooth. Although the onset of fluorosis is characterised with slight yellowing of your teeth, this mineral has the propensity of causing severe staining if left unhampered. One thing to note though is that fluoride is actually vital for the health of your teeth. The absorption of fluoride in your body is crucial in enhancing the strength of your teeth.

Additionally, topical exposure to fluoride is also essential in improving the hardening of your enamel, which would make your teeth less susceptible to deterioration. But if you are ingesting too much fluoride, such as in your water supply, fluoride supplements, the foods you eat and more, your teeth will begin to lose their white hue.

Is fluorosis a health concern?

Luckily, fluorosis does not pose a severe risk to your health. As such, it is considered an aesthetic problem and that is why it is usually addressed through cosmetic dentistry. Other than yellowing, the main symptoms that you would develop when suffering from fluorosis include:

  • The development of brown spots on your enamel
  • The development of pits in your teeth when the fluorosis becomes severe

How can fluorosis be treated?

Your cosmetic dentist will use a two-prong approach when it comes to the treatment and management of fluorosis. To begin with, the dentist will try to determine how much fluoride your body is absorbing. This assessment will involve dissecting your food option, any supplemental meds you may be taking and perhaps even testing your water supply. It is essential to determine all this to ensure that once the fluorosis is treated, you will not be at risk of developing it again.

The second part of the treatment process would be engaging in dental whitening. You will typically be required to have several sessions of whitening treatment, depending on how extensive the discolouration is. The dentist may also consider employing other treatment options such as veneers or crowns if pits have already started to form in your teeth. 

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