Have you ever noticed glazed, unusually white patches developing on your teeth? They may be the first sign of decay. At Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we want our patients to be aware of when their body is signaling that it needs more help fighting incipient dental lesions, also known as white spots.
Acid is a by-product of bacteria eating food debris. It gets stuck in plaque, the sticky film covering teeth. As enamel is exposed to acid, it begins losing minerals. This causes it to look discolored and chalky in texture, as can also be seen in people with acid reflux. But while acid reflux mainly appears on the upper back teeth, erosion from decay can usually be found in places that are hard to brush, such as near the gum line and around orthodontic brackets.
White spots develop in as little as a month, but patients can halt their progress by improving their brushing. Teeth cannot regrow lost enamel mass, but they can remineralize. If a white spot does not disappear after the infection has been killed, we can discuss options such as masking it with a veneer.
Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.
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