4 Causes Of Decalcification In Baby Teeth | Ear, Nose, Throat, and Dental problems articles | Body & Health Conditions center

Decalcification of baby teeth appears as white spots on the teeth. There are a couple of common causes that should cover the vast majority of the cases, and some less common reasons which could end up causing a more severe form of decalcification as well. What should parents know?

What is decalcification?

Our teeth have a hard texture, and that is because of the deposition of various minerals during the formation of the tooth. Calcium is the predominant mineral involved in this process. Any interruption or disruption to the normal calcifying process will leave areas of the tooth with a lower percentage of calcium concentration. These areas are referred to as areas of decalcification or just decalcification spots.

Reasons for decalcification in baby teeth vary, but let's take a look at the possible causes.

1. Excessive fluoride

Baby teeth or primary teeth are formed while the baby is still in the womb. An excessive amount of high-concentration fluoridated water being consumed by the mother could result in the formation of decalcification spots or white spots on the teeth.

Interestingly, if fluoride is indeed the cause, then multiple or even all of the milk teeth could be affected by white spots. These spots will be visible from the time the baby teeth start erupting into the mouth. In severe cases, these spots can sometimes be large enough to cover the majority of the tooth or be brownish in appearance.

These kinds of white spots are not really a functional concern because they actually end up making the teeth more resistant to tooth decay.

2. Poor oral hygiene

The second most common kind reason behind the occurrence of decalcification in baby teeth or white spots is poor oral hygiene. Plaque, when left undisturbed on the teeth, starts to mature and become more disease-causing as time progresses.

In such cases, the appearance of decalcifying spots can be attributed to the acid released by decay-causing bacteria. The white spots are an early sign of tooth decay and should be treated by the dentist. These kinds of white spots appear after the teeth stay in the mouth for some time and are not present at the time of eruption.

The dentist will probably perform a cleaning to remove the plaque and then apply fluoride varnish to protect the area from further decalcification as well as make it more resistant to decay.

That’s right, fluoride can be both a cause and the treatment for white spots in the mouth. If it sounds confusing, that because it is. The thing to remember is that fluoride can cause white spots only when the teeth are being formed — not when they have already erupted in the mouth.

3. Environmental factors

When we mention environmental factors, we are referring to the environment the developing baby is subjected to in the womb. This environment can get disturbed by a number of different things for a short duration like an illness to the mother, an injury, or a phase of poor nutrition. Certain kinds of medication (like tetracyclines), when given to pregnant women, can also cause decalcification of the teeth in the developing baby.

Different teeth are calcified at different stages of fetal development and so only those teeth which were undergoing calcification at the time of the environmental disturbance are going to be affected.

4. Genetic disorders

A number of genetic mutations have been identified as causing the decalcification of teeth in babies (and in adults). These are much more serious than just white spots and can affect the quality of life of the affected individuals quite seriously.

All the teeth are affected and they can end up being extremely brittle, prone to developing decay, misshapen, and much softer than normal. The prognosis for such teeth is not good at all and all of them end up being extracted.

A blanket name of Amelogenesis Imperfecta is given to the number of genetic mutations that cause the decalcification of the enamel. Since the enamel is the outermost protective layer of the tooth, chances of survival without it being formed or grossly deformed are close to nil.

Treatment of decalcified baby teeth

The treatment for white spots deals with two major issues. The first is to protect these "weak" areas of the teeth from getting decayed since they are more prone to do so. The second is to correct the aesthetic appearance of the teeth and make them visually acceptable to the patient.

All white areas are assumed to be weak spots of the teeth (although that is not the case with fluorosis) and treated with a fluoride varnish. Fluoride is not going to harm the tooth or worsen the situation once the teeth have erupted in the mouth.

Crowns, veneers, or just simple composite fillings can be used to correct the aesthetic appearance of the teeth. These are simple to perform procedures that are not too invasive.

Will giving calcium supplements help decalcified baby teeth?

No, they will not. Neither are the decalcified spots indicative of a calcium deficiency in the body. These white spots are caused by the reasons mentioned above and have nothing to do with the systemic availability of calcium in the body. A simple test performed by the physician should be enough to confirm that fact and provide peace of mind to the parents.