Dark spots mouth. Dark Spots in Mouth: Causes, Treatment, and When to Seek Medical Attention
What causes dark spots in the mouth. How to identify different types of oral discoloration. When should you be concerned about black dots inside your cheek. What treatments are available for various mouth pigmentation issues.
Common Causes of Dark Spots in the Mouth
Discovering a dark spot or discoloration inside your mouth can be unsettling, but in most cases, it’s not a cause for serious concern. Various benign conditions can lead to the appearance of dark spots or dots on the inner cheeks, lips, or other areas of the oral cavity. Understanding these potential causes can help alleviate anxiety and determine when medical attention might be necessary.
Oral Nevi: Moles Inside the Mouth
Oral nevi, commonly known as moles, can appear as small brown, bluish-gray, or almost black dots inside the mouth. These slightly raised spots are typically harmless and don’t require treatment. While they’re more frequently found on the roof of the mouth or inner lip, they can also develop on the cheeks.
Are oral nevi dangerous? Generally, oral nevi are benign and have not been reported to become cancerous. However, to ensure accurate diagnosis and rule out melanoma, your dentist or doctor may recommend a biopsy.
Blood Blisters: Temporary Discoloration
Blood blisters can form when the skin inside your mouth gets pinched, resulting in fluid-filled sacs that range from purple to dark red in color. These blisters are often noticeable to the touch and can be painful, especially when eating spicy foods.
How long do blood blisters in the mouth last? Most blood blisters resolve on their own within two weeks without requiring treatment. However, if a blood blister persists beyond this timeframe or becomes a recurring issue, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional.
Melanotic Macules: Harmless Hyperpigmentation
Oral melanotic macules are flat areas of hyperpigmentation with well-defined borders. These noncancerous spots average about a quarter of an inch in diameter but can be as small as 0.04 of an inch. While they’re generally harmless, your doctor may suggest a biopsy to definitively rule out melanoma.
Larger Dark Spots: Potential Causes and Concerns
While small dots are often harmless, larger dark spots in the mouth may have different causes and, in some cases, require medical attention. Let’s explore some potential reasons for more extensive oral discoloration.
Amalgam Tattoos: Dental Filling Leakage
Amalgam tattoos result from leakage of dental filling material, which contains mercury, tin, zinc, silver, and copper. These relatively common marks appear dark blue, gray, or black and are usually located adjacent to a filling. Amalgam tattoos are permanent unless removed surgically, but they don’t cause symptoms or require treatment in most cases.
Smoker’s Melanosis: Tobacco-Induced Staining
Smoking can lead to blotchy stains inside the cheeks and gums, a condition known as smoker’s melanosis. Approximately 22 percent of smokers develop this type of staining. While these marks don’t cause symptoms or necessitate treatment, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to rule out other conditions. For cosmetic reasons, the stains can be removed through laser treatment or electrosurgery.
When Dark Spots May Indicate Serious Conditions
In rare instances, dark spots in the mouth can be a sign of more serious underlying health issues. It’s crucial to be aware of these possibilities to ensure timely medical intervention if necessary.
Oral Melanoma: A Rare but Serious Concern
Oral melanoma is an extremely rare form of cancer that affects pigmented cells called melanocytes. In its early stages, oral melanoma often presents as a dark brown to blue-black spot with minimal symptoms. As the condition progresses, it may be accompanied by pain, ulcers, and bleeding.
How common is oral melanoma? Oral melanoma accounts for about 1.6 percent of head and neck cancers and less than 1 percent of all melanomas. It’s twice as common in men as in women, with an average age of diagnosis at 56 years old.
Treatment options for oral melanoma may include surgery, immunotherapy, radiation, and drug therapy. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes.
Systemic Conditions Associated with Oral Pigmentation
Some systemic health conditions can manifest with oral pigmentation as one of their symptoms. Understanding these associations can help in early detection and management of underlying health issues.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome: Polyps and Pigmentation
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a condition characterized by the development of noncancerous growths called polyps in the intestines and stomach. Children with this syndrome often develop dark spots on their lips, inside their mouth, near their eyes and nose, and around their anus. These spots typically fade with age.
What are the complications of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome? People with this condition may experience pain, bleeding, or bowel obstruction due to the presence of polyps in the digestive tract. While there’s no cure for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, surgical removal of polyps can help manage complications.
Addison’s Disease: Hormonal Imbalance and Hyperpigmentation
Addison’s disease, also known as adrenal insufficiency, is a condition characterized by a deficiency in hormones produced by the adrenal glands. One of the symptoms of Addison’s disease is the appearance of hyperpigmented blotches inside the mouth.
What are other symptoms of Addison’s disease? In addition to oral hyperpigmentation, individuals with Addison’s disease may experience extreme fatigue, weight loss, salt cravings, low blood sugar, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Treatment typically involves hormone replacement therapy to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Diagnostic Approaches for Oral Dark Spots
When faced with unexplained dark spots in the mouth, healthcare professionals employ various diagnostic techniques to determine the underlying cause and rule out serious conditions.
Visual Examination and Medical History
The first step in diagnosing oral dark spots typically involves a thorough visual examination of the mouth and a comprehensive review of the patient’s medical history. Your healthcare provider will assess the size, shape, color, and location of the spot, as well as inquire about any associated symptoms or risk factors.
Biopsy: When Further Investigation is Needed
In cases where visual examination is inconclusive or there’s a suspicion of a more serious condition, a biopsy may be recommended. This procedure involves removing a small sample of the affected tissue for microscopic examination.
What does a biopsy entail? A biopsy can be performed using various techniques, including punch biopsy, incisional biopsy, or excisional biopsy, depending on the size and location of the lesion. The sample is then analyzed by a pathologist to determine the nature of the cells and provide a definitive diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Oral Dark Spots
The treatment approach for dark spots in the mouth varies depending on the underlying cause and the patient’s preferences. Here are some common treatment options:
- Observation: For benign conditions like oral nevi or amalgam tattoos, no treatment may be necessary beyond regular monitoring.
- Laser therapy: This can be effective for removing certain types of pigmentation, such as amalgam tattoos or smoker’s melanosis.
- Surgical excision: In cases where complete removal is necessary or desired, surgical excision may be recommended.
- Medication: For systemic conditions like Addison’s disease, hormone replacement therapy may help manage symptoms, including oral hyperpigmentation.
- Cancer treatment: In the rare case of oral melanoma, a multidisciplinary approach involving surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and/or chemotherapy may be necessary.
Prevention and Maintenance of Oral Health
While not all causes of oral dark spots are preventable, maintaining good oral hygiene and overall health can help reduce the risk of certain conditions and aid in early detection of potential issues.
Regular Dental Check-ups
Scheduling regular dental check-ups allows for professional examination of your oral cavity, increasing the likelihood of early detection of any abnormalities.
How often should you visit the dentist? Most dental professionals recommend check-ups every six months for routine cleaning and examination. However, individuals with specific risk factors may need more frequent visits.
Lifestyle Modifications
Certain lifestyle choices can impact oral health and the development of dark spots. Consider the following preventive measures:
- Quit smoking: Eliminating tobacco use can prevent smoker’s melanosis and reduce the risk of oral cancer.
- Protect your mouth: Use appropriate protective gear during sports or activities that may cause trauma to the mouth, reducing the risk of blood blisters.
- Maintain a balanced diet: A nutritious diet supports overall oral health and may help prevent certain systemic conditions that can affect oral pigmentation.
- Stay hydrated: Proper hydration supports saliva production, which plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many oral dark spots are benign, certain signs and symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation. Be sure to consult a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following:
- Rapid growth or change in appearance of an existing spot
- Development of multiple new spots
- Persistent pain, bleeding, or ulceration associated with a dark spot
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Unexplained weight loss or fatigue in conjunction with oral discoloration
- Family history of oral cancer or melanoma
Early detection and timely intervention are key to managing any potential oral health issues effectively. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional medical advice.
Causes and What Needs to Be Treated
Finding a black spot or dot on the inside of your cheek can be alarming, but it’s not necessarily a sign of something serious.
A variety of harmless conditions can cause discoloration in your mouth, such as moles, hyperpigmentation, and leakage from your dental fillings.
In extremely rare cases, a black spot may be a sign of a type of cancer called oral melanoma. Oral melanoma accounts for about 1.6 percent of cancers of the head or neck, and less than 1 percent of all melanomas, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation.
Keep reading to find out what may be causing a black spot on the inside your cheek and when you should see your doctor.
The following conditions may cause a black dot, a small, circular mark, to form on the inside of your cheek.
Oral nevi
Oral nevi are small brown, bluish gray, or almost black dots that can appear inside your mouth. Nevi is a medical term for moles (nevus is singular).
Oral nevi are usually slightly raised. They’re more common on the roof of the mouth or inner lip, but they can also form on the cheeks. They usually don’t cause any symptoms.
No treatment is usually necessary for an oral nevus, and there are no reports of an oral nevus becoming cancerous. However, your doctor or dentist may still recommend getting a biopsy to make sure it’s indeed a nevus and not melanoma.
Blood blister
Blood blisters are sacs of fluid that fill with blood. They can range in color from purple to dark red. They commonly form when the skin in your mouth gets pinched.
Blood blisters are often big enough that you can feel them with your tongue. They most often form on the soft parts of your mouth, like your cheek or inner lips. They’re typically painful when touched, or if you eat spicy food.
The majority of blood blisters don’t last long and don’t need treatment if you leave them alone. But if the blood blister lasts for more than 2 weeks or becomes a reoccurring problem, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor.
Melanotic macules
Oral melanotic macules are areas of hyperpigmentation that average about a quarter of an inch in diameter. They can be as small as 0.04 of an inch. These spots are typically flat and have a well-defined border.
Oral melanotic macules are noncancerous, but your doctor may recommend a biopsy to rule out melanoma.
The following are potential causes of dark spots on the inside of your cheek. Spots can vary in size but they are larger than a dot.
Leakage from a dental filling
Amalgam is a material made of mercury, tin, zinc, silver, and copper. It’s been used for more than 150 years for dental fillings.
Amalgam tattoos are leakages from these dental fillings. They’re relatively common and usually appear dark blue, gray, or black. They’re most often located next to a filling.
Amalgam tattoos don’t cause any symptoms and don’t need treatment. They’re permanent unless removed with laser surgery.
Smoker’s melanosis
Smoking can leave blotchy stains called smoker’s melanosis inside your cheeks and gums. About 22 percent of people who smoke have this staining.
These stains don’t cause symptoms and don’t need treatment. However, your doctor will likely recommend a biopsy to rule out other conditions. The stains can be removed with laser treatment or electrosurgery.
Oral cancer
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that affects pigmented cells called melanocytes.
Melanoma is most common on parts of your skin frequently exposed to sunlight, but it can also form in your mouth and nose. In extremely rare cases, a dark spot inside your cheek may be a sign of oral melanoma.
In its early stages, oral melanoma often has minimal symptoms. It usually manifests as a dark brown to blue-black spot. It can also be unpigmented or white. In its late stages, the spot may be accompanied by pain, ulcers, and bleeding.
The average age of diagnosis of oral melanoma is 56. Oral cancer is twice as common in men as women.
Treatment for oral melanoma may include:
- surgery
- immunotherapy
- radiation
- drug therapy
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a condition that causes noncancerous growths called polyps in the intestines and stomach.
Children who develop this condition also commonly develop dark spots on their lips, inside their mouth, near their eyes and nose, and around their anus. The spots usually fade with age.
People with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome also often develop complications such as pain, bleeding, or bowel obstruction.
There’s no current cure for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, but surgery can remove the polyps in the digestive tract.
Addison’s disease
Addison’s disease, or adrenal insufficiency, is a deficiency of the hormones produced by your adrenal glands. One of the symptoms of Addison’s disease is hyperpigmented blotches of skin inside your mouth.
Other symptoms include:
- extreme fatigue
- weight loss
- salt cravings
- low blood sugar
- hyperpigmentation
You can take medication to replace the hormones your adrenal glands can’t produce by themselves.
Even though the chances of developing oral melanoma is very low, it’s good practice to see your doctor whenever you notice an abnormally colored spot or dot in your mouth.
It’s especially important to get the spot checked if you’re older than 55 years. Older adults have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.
Your doctor may use the following tests to help confirm a diagnosis of the dark spot inside your cheek:
- Physical inspection. Your doctor may be able to identify the spot during a physical examination simply based on its appearance.
- Biopsy. During a biopsy, your doctor will cut away a small piece of the spot and send it to a lab for analysis.
- Blood test. Your doctor may administer a blood test measuring your potassium, cortisol, and ACTH hormone levels if they suspect Addison’s disease.
Finding a dark spot or dot in your mouth is unlikely to be a sign of cancer. However, it’s still a good idea to show it to your doctor or dentist. If it does turn out to be cancerous, getting an early diagnosis and treatment can improve your outlook.
Causes and What Needs to Be Treated
Finding a black spot or dot on the inside of your cheek can be alarming, but it’s not necessarily a sign of something serious.
A variety of harmless conditions can cause discoloration in your mouth, such as moles, hyperpigmentation, and leakage from your dental fillings.
In extremely rare cases, a black spot may be a sign of a type of cancer called oral melanoma. Oral melanoma accounts for about 1.6 percent of cancers of the head or neck, and less than 1 percent of all melanomas, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation.
Keep reading to find out what may be causing a black spot on the inside your cheek and when you should see your doctor.
The following conditions may cause a black dot, a small, circular mark, to form on the inside of your cheek.
Oral nevi
Oral nevi are small brown, bluish gray, or almost black dots that can appear inside your mouth. Nevi is a medical term for moles (nevus is singular).
Oral nevi are usually slightly raised. They’re more common on the roof of the mouth or inner lip, but they can also form on the cheeks. They usually don’t cause any symptoms.
No treatment is usually necessary for an oral nevus, and there are no reports of an oral nevus becoming cancerous. However, your doctor or dentist may still recommend getting a biopsy to make sure it’s indeed a nevus and not melanoma.
Blood blister
Blood blisters are sacs of fluid that fill with blood. They can range in color from purple to dark red. They commonly form when the skin in your mouth gets pinched.
Blood blisters are often big enough that you can feel them with your tongue. They most often form on the soft parts of your mouth, like your cheek or inner lips. They’re typically painful when touched, or if you eat spicy food.
The majority of blood blisters don’t last long and don’t need treatment if you leave them alone. But if the blood blister lasts for more than 2 weeks or becomes a reoccurring problem, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor.
Melanotic macules
Oral melanotic macules are areas of hyperpigmentation that average about a quarter of an inch in diameter. They can be as small as 0.04 of an inch. These spots are typically flat and have a well-defined border.
Oral melanotic macules are noncancerous, but your doctor may recommend a biopsy to rule out melanoma.
The following are potential causes of dark spots on the inside of your cheek. Spots can vary in size but they are larger than a dot.
Leakage from a dental filling
Amalgam is a material made of mercury, tin, zinc, silver, and copper. It’s been used for more than 150 years for dental fillings.
Amalgam tattoos are leakages from these dental fillings. They’re relatively common and usually appear dark blue, gray, or black. They’re most often located next to a filling.
Amalgam tattoos don’t cause any symptoms and don’t need treatment. They’re permanent unless removed with laser surgery.
Smoker’s melanosis
Smoking can leave blotchy stains called smoker’s melanosis inside your cheeks and gums. About 22 percent of people who smoke have this staining.
These stains don’t cause symptoms and don’t need treatment. However, your doctor will likely recommend a biopsy to rule out other conditions. The stains can be removed with laser treatment or electrosurgery.
Oral cancer
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that affects pigmented cells called melanocytes.
Melanoma is most common on parts of your skin frequently exposed to sunlight, but it can also form in your mouth and nose. In extremely rare cases, a dark spot inside your cheek may be a sign of oral melanoma.
In its early stages, oral melanoma often has minimal symptoms. It usually manifests as a dark brown to blue-black spot. It can also be unpigmented or white. In its late stages, the spot may be accompanied by pain, ulcers, and bleeding.
The average age of diagnosis of oral melanoma is 56. Oral cancer is twice as common in men as women.
Treatment for oral melanoma may include:
- surgery
- immunotherapy
- radiation
- drug therapy
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a condition that causes noncancerous growths called polyps in the intestines and stomach.
Children who develop this condition also commonly develop dark spots on their lips, inside their mouth, near their eyes and nose, and around their anus. The spots usually fade with age.
People with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome also often develop complications such as pain, bleeding, or bowel obstruction.
There’s no current cure for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, but surgery can remove the polyps in the digestive tract.
Addison’s disease
Addison’s disease, or adrenal insufficiency, is a deficiency of the hormones produced by your adrenal glands. One of the symptoms of Addison’s disease is hyperpigmented blotches of skin inside your mouth.
Other symptoms include:
- extreme fatigue
- weight loss
- salt cravings
- low blood sugar
- hyperpigmentation
You can take medication to replace the hormones your adrenal glands can’t produce by themselves.
Even though the chances of developing oral melanoma is very low, it’s good practice to see your doctor whenever you notice an abnormally colored spot or dot in your mouth.
It’s especially important to get the spot checked if you’re older than 55 years. Older adults have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.
Your doctor may use the following tests to help confirm a diagnosis of the dark spot inside your cheek:
- Physical inspection. Your doctor may be able to identify the spot during a physical examination simply based on its appearance.
- Biopsy. During a biopsy, your doctor will cut away a small piece of the spot and send it to a lab for analysis.
- Blood test. Your doctor may administer a blood test measuring your potassium, cortisol, and ACTH hormone levels if they suspect Addison’s disease.
Finding a dark spot or dot in your mouth is unlikely to be a sign of cancer. However, it’s still a good idea to show it to your doctor or dentist. If it does turn out to be cancerous, getting an early diagnosis and treatment can improve your outlook.
Cancer of the oral cavity and larynx
general name for diseases in which
malignant neoplasms appear and grow
(MN) or, in other words, malignant tumors.
Modern medicine distinguishes more than a hundred types of such
diseases. Cancer can affect any human organ.
The course and symptoms differ, but one thing is common: cells
of the affected organ begin to divide uncontrollably
and grow. This abnormal growth is called a tumor.
More
Most patients
are older than 40 .
Most often they are people
45-60 years old .
Out of 1000
cancer patients only 8 suffer from oral cavity cancer
.
Men get sick
7 times more often than
women. Presumably due to the fact that bad habits are more common among men.
Self-diagnosis
In the early stages, cancer in the mouth is asymptomatic. But a person can notice the manifestation of diseases that precede cancer.
Erythroplakia is a red spot on the mucous membrane, usually on the lower lip or palate.
Leukoplakia – white bumps – round or oblong – on the inside of the cheeks, gums or under the tongue.
If you notice any of these signs, make an appointment with your dentist or otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) immediately.
Professional diagnostics
A dentist and ENT can detect signs of cancer when examining a patient’s mouth (endoscopic examination).
More accurate data is obtained by biopsy: material is taken from the affected area for examination under a microscope. The material can be collected with a special brush. Or – this method is more common – the patient is given local anesthesia and the surgeon cuts off a piece of the affected mucosa.
In addition, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and X-rays of the facial part of the skull are performed.
Usually, a doctor is consulted already in the later stages, when the tumor causes discomfort. To assess the extent of the spread of cancer, the patient is given a chest x-ray and an abdominal ultrasound.
See your doctor (dentist or ENT) immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. They are similar to signs of other diseases, only a doctor can correctly interpret them.
The sooner a tumor is detected, the more effective it will be.
her treatment.
Treatment and follow-up
In most cases, malignant tumors in the oral cavity are excised. This is called a resection. The scale of the operation is determined by the size of the tumor, the depth of its penetration into neighboring tissues and the state of the lymph nodes. In some cases, a laser is enough. In others, a large-scale surgical intervention is necessary, up to the removal of fragments of the jaws with their subsequent restoration. The level of modern surgery makes it possible to excise tumors even from the tongue, preserving its functions..
If the cancer is detected in time, after the operation the patient gets rid of it forever. Relapses of the disease are extremely rare.
Radiation therapy is usually given after surgery or when a recurrence is detected. Radioactive radiation is concentrated on the tumor, minimally affecting healthy tissue.
Chemotherapy (exposure to a tumor with drugs that are toxic to it) is prescribed for long courses. So it is possible to slow down and completely stop the development of cancer cells.
Viktor, 57 years old
Patient’s history
Six months ago, I discovered a non-healing sore under my tongue. Made an appointment with the dentist.
The prescribed treatment did not bring results, the ulcer increased in size. Victor was sent to the polyclinic of the regional oncology dispensary. Cytological and histological studies were carried out here (smears were taken from the oral mucosa and a piece of affected tissue was cut off for detailed study).
According to the results of the study, a diagnosis was made: histologically squamous cell carcinoma. Victor was admitted to the oncosurgical department No. 3. At the consultation, the doctors decided to perform an operation as the first stage of treatment.
Viktor underwent resection of the floor of the mouth.
The postoperative period passed without complications. During postoperative histological examination, Victor was found to have moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (the cells of such a tumor look like healthy tissue and continue to perform their usual functions). Further treatment was decided to continue with a course of radiation therapy.
Viktor was discharged from the oncology dispensary. Now he is being treated by a radiologist.
Procedure for contacting health facilities
Visit to the precinct
therapist
Direction
to a specialist
Direction to the regional
oncology dispensary
Confirmation of the diagnosis
and treatment
All necessary cancer treatment
profile – free of charge within the CHI system
In accordance with the Order of the Ministry
Healthcare of the Russian Federation dated November 15, 2012
No. 915n “On approval of the procedure for providing
medical care to the population by profile
“Oncology””
The child has stains on the teeth, what to do
Changes in the child’s teeth are a serious symptom that signals the need to visit the dentist. What color are the stains on the teeth, what can they signal and what should be done first? Fast dental care for stains on your child’s teeth!
Yellow stains on the teeth
Yellow stains are caused by tartar, trauma, caries, as well as problems during childbearing and living conditions. Often the problem occurs in the youngest children (under one year). These include hygienic violations and dry air, in which he is forced to constantly be.
In any case, regardless of the cause of this pathology, it is necessary to consult a dentist. Regular brushing, dental check-ups, and flossing can reduce the risk. It is also recommended to have your teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist’s office twice a year. Significantly increases the effectiveness of prevention exclusion from the diet of foods that contribute to the destruction of teeth. A similar pathology can also occur in adults.
White spots on tooth enamel
They are caused by intrauterine development disorders. Their immediate causes are a weakening of the immune system, an excess of fluoride in the body (read about fluorosis), caries and mechanical damage to tooth enamel. The reason for the appearance of such spots is often malnutrition. For prevention, you should brush your teeth (or at least rinse your mouth) after each meal. Once every six months, tartar should be removed and, if necessary, remineralization should be carried out.
A disease that causes stains on the teeth
A disease of the teeth that manifests itself in the form of multi-colored spots on their surface is called hypoplasia . The disease appears even during the period of bearing the future patient of the dental office. It develops in a child if the mother, during pregnancy, had stomach problems, and she also had a lack of vitamin D or she was exposed to a viral disease.
In such cases, it is necessary to increase the immunity of the child and change his diet. First of all, it is required to exclude the possibility of excessive amounts of fluorine entering the body. To do this, you should abandon the toothpaste with its high content. You need to give your child only purified (bottled or filtered) water to drink, and also give him more vitamins, vegetables and fruits.
With the development of the disease, which is expressed in the appearance of new spots and an increase in the area of existing ones, remineralization is necessary. The procedure consists in the dentist covering the teeth with a special paste containing substances designed to strengthen the enamel. With hypoplasia, identified before reaching the age of eighteen, fluoridation or silvering is also performed.
Black spots
Tooth decay of this nature can have several causes. One of them is Priestley plaque , most often caused by disturbances in the microflora of the children’s intestines. As a result, both milk and molars are destroyed by bacteria. The disease is treated only by medication.
Black spots can also be caused by the development of caries. Blackening of the teeth is often the result of a lack of calcium in the body. For prevention, you need to reduce the amount of sugar consumed.
In addition, calcium levels can be increased by giving the baby more milk and using vitamin complexes prescribed by the dentist.
Much less often, but it is still possible to inherit this pathology from parents. Therefore, the child should have personal cutlery (at least a spoon and fork).
Brown spots
Similar manifestations on tooth enamel are also caused by the development of hypoplasia. The disease, in general, is very common and, according to some estimates, up to 40% of children suffer from it.
The causes of hypoplasia, in contrast to caries that destroy the still growing teeth, are complications during pregnancy or trauma upon birth. It can also develop due to malnutrition, digestive problems and damage to tooth enamel.
For prevention, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the mother’s teeth. You should refuse artificial feeding and monitor the child’s nutrition afterwards, as well as visit the dentist regularly.
Types of damage to teeth with hypoplasia
The disease can manifest itself in different forms. Most often it is a stain, but erosion (thinning of the enamel layer) and furrow (deepening of a darker color) are possible, as well as a combination of different symptoms.