White spots on your preschooler's teeth should not be ignored. In some instances, it can be an early warning sign that your child has dental problems. If your child has white spots, here is what you need to know. 

What Causes the White Spots?

In most instances, the source of the white spots on a preschooler's teeth is fluoride. Fluoride is important to the development of your child's teeth, but it is important that he or she does not get more than the recommended amount. When he or she does, fluorosis develops. 

Fluorosis can cause the teeth to not only develop white spots, but also brown spots. The enamel can become damaged, which leaves your child's teeth vulnerable to tooth decay. 

It is easy for your child to get more than the recommended amounts of fluoride. For instance, if your child is using fluoride rinses or tablets and also failing to properly spit out the toothpaste when he or she brushes, too much fluoride could be ingested. 

What Can You Do?

One of the most important steps you can take to avoid white spots in the future is to ensure that your child does not have more than a pea-size amount of toothpaste on his or her brush. The amount is just enough for your child to adequately brush his or her teeth while avoiding the ingestion of too much toothpaste. 

You also need to watch how much fluoride your child is consuming through water. Many municipalities treat their water with fluoride. Check with your city to determine if this is true of the water supply in your area. If so, skip the fluoride rinses and tablets for your child.  

Ideally, your child has already seen a pediatric dentist at this point. If not, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. The dentist can treat your child's teeth with a fluoride varnish that can help stop the development of white spots. This is especially important if the dentist believes your child is at risk of developing cavities due to damage to the enamel caused by fluoride. 

If the white spots resulted from trauma, have your child's teeth examined by the dentist. He or she will determine what other treatments are needed. In the future, look for ways to minimize the chances of your child experiencing a trauma to the mouth. For instance, you could have him or her fitted for a custom mouthpiece if your child plays sports.