Black spots on the teeth are usually accompanied by a cluster of white material in between the teeth. This is called a dental plaque and tartar. This can normally occur in people with poor dental hygiene and is easily rectifiable by a tooth scaling procedure at the dentist's office.
Plaque builds up in the human teeth because of the action of bacteria and improper brushing that causes the build up. Since the bacteria in question are anaerobic - they can survive without the presence of oxygen - they form acids as part of their metabolism and this attacks tooth enamel and the gums. With enough accumulation of plaque, the plaque mineralizes and becomes a tartar formation that varies in color from brown to black. Smokers are especially at risk of this condition because of teeth staining from nicotine deposits. If this condition is not corrected with a scaling procedure then the gums will be affected by Periodontitis. Scaling is the preferred method of freeing the teeth from the effects of built up tartar. Scaling is performed by the use of precision instruments equipped with a vibrating tip or use ultrasound to dislodge the deposits. The procedure usually lasts just an hour and the color of teeth can usually be completely replaced to its original state.
It is very important after the treatment that follow up treatments be also performed once in three months. Brushing twice a day also delays the onset of further plaque deposits and can stretch the period between the visits. Since the root cause of plaque is anaerobic bacteria, it is important to keep the teeth free of these bacteria. Dental plaque is usually cause by a variant of the staphylococcus bacteria and the populations of this bacterial colony can be reduced by keeping a healthy population of lactobacillus bacteria. This can be done by consuming probiotic yogurt every day. Doing this also has resultant effects on the rest of the body as well as lactobacillus is the dominant bacteria that prevents more virulent strains from wreaking havoc in the intestines and mouth.- Consuming sugary drinks too often has an effect on the teeth as well. It is better to have a lot of sugar in one go than by spreading it over a period of a day. Washing out your mouth after every meal is highly recommended. This wash can even be done while drinking water by swishing the water about for a few seconds before swallowing it. The aim is to ensure that all food particles are eliminated and that there should be no residual taste left in the mouth.
answered by G M