What causes white spots on your teeth?
Quick answer
What causes white spots on teeth, and how do you get rid of them?
White spots are usually one of three things: fluorosis (excess fluoride while the teeth formed), decalcification — the first visible stage of tooth decay, where plaque acids have leeched minerals from the enamel — or less commonly enamel hypoplasia.
They cannot be brushed away at home. Professional whitening from £425 at York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet can blend mild spots into a lighter, even shade, and composite bonding from £200 per tooth covers stubborn patches.
What causes white spots on teeth?
The classic presentation is after braces: brackets make cleaning difficult, plaque sits around the edges for months, and the enamel beneath demineralises into chalky white patches. The same process — decalcification — follows frequent sugary or acidic drinks in anyone. Fluorosis spots, by contrast, formed in childhood while the adult teeth were developing and are stable but visible.
Can white spots be treated?
Matching the treatment to the cause matters. Early decalcification needs fluoride and dietary change to stop it progressing — see whether decay can be reversed — while fluorosis is purely cosmetic. Whitening (Boutique from £425, Enlighten from £635) lightens the surrounding enamel so the spots blend rather than disappear; Airflow stain removal (a £35 add-on to hygiene visits) polishes surface staining but does not touch demineralisation.
How do you prevent white spots?
Deeper or larger patches respond best to coverage: composite bonding from £200 per tooth masks the defect in one visit. Daily prevention keeps new spots away — fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth every day, and hygienist visits (£77) that catch the plaque you miss. Book a check-up (£52) if a spot is new, rough or growing.
Care at York House Dental Practice
Welcoming new patients, families and emergency appointments from West Byfleet, Woking, Weybridge, and across Surrey.
Last reviewed: by Dr Kaveet Patel, Principal Dentist
