Australian researchers have discovered why some children develop the most common type of chalky tooth enamel.
One in five children have discoloured enamel spots on their teeth, which often causes severe toothache and decay and sometimes leads to abscesses, extractions and orthodontic problems.
The researchers, alongside their Chilean counterparts, found one type of chalky enamel - molar hypomineralisation - is linked to childhood illness, like fevers.
Chalky molars arise when the teeth are contaminated by a protein called albumin - which is found in the blood and tissue surrounding developing teeth.
"We've shown instead that albumin leaks in occasionally at weak spots, binding to enamel-mineral crystals and blocking their growth," University of Melbourne professor and lead author of the report Mike Hubbard said.
"The result is a sort of 'mineralisation blockage', which is highly localised to the areas on individual teeth that become chalky enamel spots."
A tooth with severe hypomineralisation is 10 times more likely to decay than one without.
While there is no cure nor any way to prevent chalky teeth, Melbourne paediatric dentist Karen Kan says early detection can help dentists treat the tooth and save children pain.
She treated seven-year-old Antonio in March 2020.
"He was only eating soft food. We thought he was vegetarian," his mum Harri said.
Antonio has since had five molars removed and now loves steak.
The research team hope their work will in coming years identify a way to prevent hypomineralisation, and eliminate about half of childhood tooth decay.
