With chalky teeth, two things help most: protecting the sensitive areas and keeping the teeth free of decay. We ease the sensitivity with an infiltration (Icon) and with sealants, gently and without reshaping. Add to that adapted care at home and more frequent check-ups. The earlier we see the teeth, the more healthy tooth is preserved.
Updated: 9 November 2026
What chalky teeth are
Chalky teeth, molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) in medical terms, are a disturbance in enamel formation. It usually affects the first permanent molars, which come through around the age of six, and the incisors. The enamel is softer and more porous than healthy enamel. The spots are white to yellowish-brown and sharply defined. Often it is not only about appearance but about sensitive teeth. Chalky teeth are common: in the most recent German oral health study, around one in seven twelve-year-olds had chalky teeth.
How parents can recognise them
- White, yellow or brownish spots on the new molars or incisors, often as soon as they come through.
- Your child avoids cold food, or brushing hurts on certain teeth.
- Your child is less keen to brush one side than the other.
- At one spot, the enamel crumbles or has broken away.
Where they come from
The causes are not yet fully understood. The affected teeth form their enamel around birth and in the first years of life. Illnesses during this time, for example with high fever, and other influences are being discussed. What is certain: chalky teeth are not caused by a poor diet or a lack of care. Parents are not to blame.
What we do at the practice
- Infiltration with Icon: a highly fluid resin penetrates the porous area and seals it from within. This eases the sensitivity, and light spots often fade. In one session, usually without anaesthetic.
- Sealing the molars: we coat the biting surfaces with a thin-flowing resin, minimally invasively and in a few minutes. The surface becomes smooth and easy to clean, the tooth stays protected from decay, and it reacts less sensitively.
- Rebuilding where enamel has broken: if enamel has broken off, we rebuild the area with tooth-coloured composite.
Whether Icon, sealing or a build-up suits depends on how severely a tooth is affected. We look at that tooth by tooth and discuss it with you and your child.
What helps at home
- A soft toothbrush and lukewarm water for brushing and rinsing.
- A fluoride toothpaste suited to your child’s age.
- Brush after your child until they can reliably clean their back teeth themselves.
- Regular check-ups, at shorter intervals with chalky teeth.
Children can come for dental hygiene from the age of six: shorter, more playful, without pressure. We colour the plaque so the children can see where it sits, and practise how to remove it themselves.
