page_title: Tooth discoloration
section_title: Fluorosis
hierarchical_section_title: Tooth discoloration / Causes / Intrinsic discoloration / Fluorosis
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Dents colorées par le fluor chez un patient vivant à Deming (Nouveau-Mexique) dans une zone connue pour ses fluoroses endémiques. [Photo médicale, fluorose, dentisterie&#160;; Source&#160;: Archives médicales militaires des États-Unis] English: Mottled enamel due to fluorine. Patient lives in Deming, New Mexico, which is an endemic fluorine area. [Clinical photo, fluorosis, dentistry.]
context_page_description: Tooth discoloration is abnormal tooth color, hue or translucency. External discoloration is accumulation of stains on the tooth surface. Internal discoloration is due to absorption of pigment particles into tooth structure. Sometimes there are several different co-existent factors responsible for discoloration.
context_section_description: Fluorosis may occur when there is chronic and excessive exposure to fluoride during the years of tooth development. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in water, although some regions have higher levels than others, and in some areas fluoride is added to water supplies in low levels to help prevent tooth decay. Exposure can also occur via bottled water and fluoride toothpaste. In its mildest form, fluorosis appears as small opaque white flecks on the enamel surface. More severe cases show severely hypoplastic patches of enamel, which are also prone to accumulation of surface stains. Chronological, fine white bands of fluorosis may be seen that correspond to the times of high exposure to fluoride.
caption: Severe fluorosis: mottled enamel of an individual from a region with high levels of naturally occurring fluoride
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