White spots on teeth
- Early decay: an opaque white spot, often near the gum line or in the grooves, especially after braces are removed.
- Fluorosis: white spots or streaks caused by taking in too much fluoride while the teeth were forming in childhood.
- Developmental enamel defect: opaque or white areas present since the tooth erupted.
Brown or black spots on teeth
- Surface staining: from tea, coffee, tobacco or some foods; usually removed with scaling and polishing.
- Tartar: a hard yellow or brown deposit, especially behind the lower front teeth.
- Decay: it may look brown or dark. Sometimes old, arrested decay is also dark. Whether it is active or arrested is for the dentist to determine.
When should you see a dentist?
- The spot is new or getting bigger.
- The surface of the spot is rough or has a hole.
- You have sensitivity to cold, heat or sweets.
- Food gets stuck at that spot.
- You haven't had a dental check-up for a long time.
Is a photo of your teeth enough for a check?
A dental photo can be useful for seeing suspicious areas, and tools like Anodyne analyze it. But telling surface staining from decay, and whether a lesion is active, requires a direct examination and sometimes an X-ray. Review the result of any image analysis with your dentist.