Why Are My Teeth Wearing Down?
The structure of the teeth can sustain damage due to trauma or decay, but surface loss of the teeth can also occur because of wear and tear. This loss of dental structure is called tooth wear, and it is categorized as either physiological or pathological. Physiological tooth wear is the natural, normal wear on the teeth as people, and their teeth, age. Pathological tooth wear occurs beyond the parameters of what is considered normal and can adversely affect a person’s appearance and the function of their teeth, possibly even causing pain if the tooth wear is significant enough to expose a nerve. The preferred approach to slowing or halting pathological tooth wear will depend on its cause, and the causes of tooth wear are divided into three categories: attrition, abrasion, and erosion.
Tooth wear that is categorized as attrition occurs when the forces of the teeth act against one another and includes the most common cause of pathological tooth wear, bruxism. Bruxism is the chronic grinding and clenching of the teeth, the forces of which erode the biting surfaces, flattening and shortening the teeth. This can lead to a distorted appearance and might also cause sensitivity to extreme temperatures or excessively sweet foods or drinks. The most common causes of bruxism are stress and anxiety, and the condition appears most often when people are sleeping. Stress management and night guards, worn while sleeping, have proven to be effective remedies for bruxism in many cases.
When the teeth are brushed too aggressively and with improper forces in the wrong direction, their surfaces can experience wear due to abrasion. This may appear most dramatically on the outer surfaces of the posterior teeth, and it is likely to cause a wedge-shaped indentation in the tooth near the gum line. Your dentist can help you modify your brushing habits and help you choose the right soft-bristled toothbrush to keep your teeth safe from further wear. When erosion is the culprit for tooth wear, it’s because of the presence of acid in the oral cavity. This acid, which could be dietary acid or gastric acid, dissolves the dentin and enamel layers of the teeth and wears away their surfaces. Dietary acid is present in many foods and drinks, including all carbonated beverages and many citrus fruits and candies. Gastric acid may affect the teeth in cases of repeated vomiting or significant gastric reflux and primarily erodes the hidden, interior surfaces of the teeth, which means that dentists are often the first people to diagnose such conditions during routine examinations. When chronic vomiting or gastric reflux remain unaddressed, they can lead to precancerous and even cancerous conditions.
Once the hard enamel outer surface of the tooth has begun to wear down, the softer inside layer of dentin erodes at an increasingly faster rate. As more dentin is exposed and erodes, the likelihood of tooth sensitivity increases. Repairing areas of damage can prevent additional damage from occurring, and when damage is already significant, restoring the entire tooth with a dental crown can eliminate sensitivity and protect the affected teeth from additional structural damage.
Early treatment for worn down teeth is important to avoid extraction. Reach out today if you believe your teeth are worn down.