Fluorosis in children: causes and treatment

Contents

• Causes of Fluorosis in Children

• Symptoms of Fluorosis

• Forms and Stages of Fluorosis

• Treatment of Fluorosis in Children

• Prevention of Fluorosis

Fluorosis is a lesion of the tooth enamel that develops when a large amount of fluoride accumulates in the body. It is most often diagnosed in children during the eruption of permanent teeth. The disease leads to a decrease in enamel density and the appearance of white, yellow, or brown spots.

The main cause of fluorosis in children is the consumption of water with a high fluoride content. At the same time, simply replacing the water is not enough to stop the disease. It is necessary to perform professional teeth cleaning, restore the affected areas of enamel, and strengthen it.

At “Oxford Medical,” fluorosis treatment is carried out using modern, highly effective, and completely painless methods. The clinic employs experienced pediatric dentists who know how to approach each child or teenager. They use methods of play adaptation that help young patients quickly get used to the unfamiliar environment and trust the doctor.

Causes of Fluorosis in Children

Fluorosis develops when a large amount of fluoride accumulates in the body. In small doses, it is necessary for the normal development of bones and teeth, but in excess, it begins to destroy them.

Fluoride enters the body mainly with water. If its concentration is 2 or more times higher than the permissible norm of 1.5–2 mg/l, the likelihood of a negative effect on the body increases. However, the disease does not develop in everyone. Additional risk factors include:

• weakened immunity;

• infectious diseases;

• chronic illnesses;

• vitamin deficiency;

• metabolic disorders.

Symptoms of Fluorosis

With fluorosis, small white lines first appear on the teeth, which, as the disease progresses, can increase and change shade to yellow and dark brown. Because of this, many parents mistake them for caries, although these pathologies are completely different.

Dentists at "Oxford Medical" warn that in children, fluorosis usually manifests itself during a change of bite. First, it affects the front teeth, and then spreads to the canines and molars. Without timely treatment, it can severely damage the enamel and lead to increased tooth wear.

Forms and Stages of Fluorosis

Fluoride has the property of accumulating in the body. If its intake is not reduced in time, the disease can progress and cause severe tooth destruction.

Depending on the symptoms and their severity, the following forms of fluorosis are distinguished:

• Streaked – an early stage of the disease. Characterized by the appearance of thin light lines on the front teeth. Over time, they may grow up to several millimeters wide.

• Spotted – accompanied by an increase and darkening of the affected areas, resulting in light yellow spots of irregular shape on the teeth. At this stage, the disease usually spreads to the canines and molars. Lesions may be observed immediately after they erupt.

• Mottled-chalky – accompanied by loss of enamel luster, making the teeth look matte, as well as an increase in the size and number of spots. Their color can range from pale yellow to deep brown. Small chips of teeth may also appear at this stage.

• Erosive – accompanied by a decrease in density and the appearance of areas of enamel destruction, i.e., deep damage. Visually, they look like small indentations. Tooth pigmentation increases and sensitivity to cold and hot also rises.

• Destructive – accompanied by severe enamel destruction down to the dentin, which leads not only to high sensitivity of the teeth but also to fragility. As a result, chips appear and the risk of tooth destruction arises.

To avoid severe tooth damage, dentists recommend bringing children for check-ups at least once every 6 months. This allows fluorosis and other dental diseases to be diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment is most effective and simple.

Treatment of Fluorosis in Children

An experienced dentist can detect fluorosis spots at an early stage even during a routine examination. This often happens during preventive visits, visits for caries, or orthodontic correction.

For the treatment of fluorosis, complex therapy is used, and the program depends on the stage of the disease. It is important to eliminate the cause of excessive fluoride intake into the body, as well as to restore and strengthen the tooth enamel. For this, the dentist may recommend:

• professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar;

• enamel polishing using abrasive pastes to remove dark spots;

• enamel remineralization to restore its structure and strengthen it;

• teeth whitening with the ZOOM 4 system from Philips or BEYOND, which provide safe removal of pigmentation and additional enamel strengthening;

• tooth restoration using composite materials;

• intake of vitamin and mineral complexes with calcium and phosphorus;

• replacement of drinking water.

At an early stage, treatment of fluorosis in a child may be limited to replacing drinking water, restoring the mineral balance in the body, and performing professional teeth cleaning. In more severe cases, enamel polishing and remineralization are necessary. If it is severely damaged, restoration — the rebuilding of the tooth with composite material — may be required.

Also, reducing the amount of fluoride entering the body plays a large role in the treatment of fluorosis. For this, the child is recommended to drink pre-purified or bottled water and slightly change their diet by removing foods with a high content of the microelement.

Prevention of Fluorosis

For the prevention of fluorosis in children and adults, it is recommended to:

• drink filtered water (fluoride content should be lower than 1.5 mg/l);

• use high-quality toothpaste that contains calcium;

• eat a balanced diet to avoid deficiency or imbalance of vitamins and minerals;

• visit a dentist twice a year.

Fluorosis is a rarer disease than caries, but it can cause equally severe tooth damage. Children are more prone to it than adults. In many, the disease appears during a change of bite and causes damage to newly erupted permanent teeth. The disease can only be noticed and treated in time with regular visits to the dentist.

At the “Oxford Medical” clinic, dentists of various specialties work who know how to find an approach to each child and solve any dental problem.

To make an appointment for a consultation, call our contact center or write in the chat on the website.

Sources:

• National Library Of Medicine

• Nature.com

• ScienceDirect