Dental fluorosis is the end result of baby teeth that have been exposed to too much fluoride. Luckily, fluorosis is a primarily aesthetic problem and should’t have any harmful effects on your child’s future dental health. Fluorosis causes discoloration and mottling of the enamel of baby teeth.
Symptoms Of Fluorosis
Below are the stages of dental fluorosis and the symptoms of each stage:
- Mild – In mild cases of fluorosis, small white flecks or spots will occur on the teeth. In mild cases, these spots and streaks will only appear on less than half of the surface of the tooth.
- Moderate – As the dental fluorosis progresses, these white patches will spread to over half of the tooth’s surface. At this stage, brown spots may also begin to appear.
- Severe – Lastly, white and brown spots will be on all or at least most of the teeth. Additionally, you may also see visible mottling and pitting of the teeth. This causes the teeth to appear corroded.
Prevention Of Fluorosis
Below are a few ways you can help protect your child’s baby teeth from developing dental fluorosis:
- Make sure your children spit out any leftover toothpaste when they’re finished brushing their teeth.
- Watch your children while they brush their teeth and monitor the amount of toothpaste they need (pea-sized amount for kids 2 and up).
- Keep mouthwash, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements out of reach of children.
- Never give your child fluoride supplements unless instructed to by your child’s doctor or dentist.
For general dental issues, please contact your family dentist. For more advanced dental services or for a consultation here at Littleton Implants & Periodontics, please contact our Littleton, CO office today.