White Spots on Teeth in Salem, OR
Restore your smile and your confidence!
Are you worried about white spots on your teeth?
If you have white spots and/or other types of discoloration, it’s worth getting them evaluated by a dentist. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental, we can examine the white spots on your teeth to evaluate both your oral health and the cosmetic appearance of your smile and recommend effective treatment options and help you determine the right remedy for your unique smile and situation.
Give us a call at (503) 315-2500 or request an appointment to schedule a consultation and let us know how we can help.
What causes white spots on teeth?
The potential causes of white spots on teeth include vitamin deficiencies, illnesses, infections, poor dental hygiene, excess fluoride, or trauma to the tooth. In some cases, white spots may be caused by something called enamel hypoplasia, which occurs when a patient’s tooth enamel doesn’t form properly during development. This condition can increase the risk of tooth decay and requires intervention.
In most cases, white spots are not hazardous to your oral health. However, they may be a sign that you need to make some changes to your diet, lifestyle, and dental-care regimen in order to prevent further spots from forming. They may also cause you to feel insecure.
Can white spots on teeth be removed?
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options for patients concerned about white spots. The most effective treatments are veneers and teeth whitening.
Porcelain dental veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made “shells” that we can bond to the surface of your teeth. Not only can veneers completely eliminate the appearance of white spots, they can also improve the shape, color, length, and overall look of your smile.
Another effective remedy for white spots is a teeth whitening treatment. By brightening your entire smile, we can lift the color and evenness of all your teeth so the rest of your smile matches the white spots. Professional whitening can also hide years’ worth of stains and wear and tear.
Are white spots on teeth bad?
White spots on the teeth aren’t necessarily bad. In most cases, white spots don’t indicate a problem with your oral health. However, many patients feel insecure about their white spots. If you have cosmetic concerns, we can employ effective treatments that will give you more confidence in your smile.
Do white spots on teeth go away on their own?
Once white spots have formed on the teeth, they rarely go away on their own. Unfortunately, even with changes to your diet, lifestyle, and daily oral care, these spots are unlikely to disappear without treatment. Cosmetic dentistry options such as veneers and/or teeth whitening are the only way to ensure your white spots completely go away.
Although lifestyle changes alone won’t get rid of white spots, a healthy and teeth-conscious diet and consistent dental care can prevent additional spots from forming. So once you’ve had the white spots on your teeth removed through professional dental treatments, it’s important to maintain these healthy habits in order to ensure your teeth remain free of white spots in the future.
Are white spots more common in kids or adults?
Although we see white spots on the teeth of both children and adult patients, they’re more common in children’s teeth. White spots can develop on baby teeth, but they’re most frequently observed when a child’s adult teeth begin to grow in.
Does coconut oil remove white spots on teeth?
Some patients are interested in natural remedies to try to remove white spots. “Oil pulling” is a popular method that involves swishing a teaspoon of coconut oil around in your mouth to try to clean and whiten the teeth. Some claim this improves gum health, removes plaque, and whitens the teeth.
Unfortunately, no scientific studies have proven that oil pulling whitens teeth. While there don’t seem to be any negative consequences to using coconut oil on the teeth, it’s unlikely to produce any significant positive results either.
Financing & Payment Options
We offer CareCredit and discount plans through Principal and Carrington. Our office can also arrange payment plans with automatic withdrawals from your bank account.
Whether you have dental insurance or not, we’ll help you get the general dentistry treatments you want and need at a price you can afford.
Become a patient at Healthy Smiles Family Dental
Have questions? Call (503) 315-2500. We hope to see you soon!
Our Office
4392 Liberty Rd S,
Salem OR 97302
Monday - Thursday
7:00AM - 4:00PM