Table of Content
What to Do About Worn Down Teeth
by Dylan Hao |
Humans are designed with both flat and sharp teeth. This evolutionary feature allows us to be omnivores, tearing into meat and fruit and chewing our veggies.
Yet, this ongoing wear and tear (plus other factors) can lead to a problem: worn down teeth.
If you think your smile looks and feels a little different but can’t quite pinpoint the reason for the change, you might be dealing with enamel erosion.
What causes our teeth to wear down, and is it something to worry about?
In this blog, we examine the underlying causes of worn down teeth, their potential effects on health, and how to treat the problem before it worsens.
Worn Down Teeth: Is There a Fix?
The oldest consistent representations of dental care in civilization come from the Ancient Egyptian mummies. X-rays of these individuals, thousands of years old, reveal that dental wear and tear have always been an issue, and attempts at invasive dentistry existed back then.
This proof of dental care shows that the struggle with painful oral health issues has been a human-wide challenge. But, unlike today, our ancestors didn’t have Tylenol and other pain meds to turn to.
Without understanding how tooth decay and enamel loss occur, they often used reactive instead of preventive measures.
Now, we link enamel loss to age, but — as with our ancient ancestors — that’s not the only cause of wear and tear. Tooth erosion happens when the protective layer of your teeth, the enamel, begins to thin. When this process starts, the enamel can’t be regenerated.
Instead, the goal is to slow down the wear and tear and cover up any damage before it worsens. Some people just need to update their at-home tooth care routine. Others benefit from acupuncture for bruxism sessions.
Thankfully, our fixes are more advanced than the original dental surgeries. Modern cosmetic dentistry solutions include more than fillings.
To correct your worn down teeth, your dentist may suggest one of the following restorative treatments:
- Dental bonding: A minimally invasive procedure that uses tooth-colored resin to cover wear and tear, cracks, chips, or discoloration
- Veneers: Bonds wafer-thin shells made of composite or porcelain material to the surface of the front teeth to cover gaps, discoloration, or chips
- Dental crowns: Used when teeth are weak or damaged from severe wear or decay. Crowns look similar to the natural surrounding teeth and protect and restore function to the damaged tooth.
- Dental implants: Designed to replace missing teeth, a post (implant) made of titanium or zirconium is surgically inserted into the jawbone, and then a crown is connected to the post. The result is an artificial tooth that functions and looks like its natural counterparts.
The good news is that, regardless of the wear and tear in your smile, there’s likely a treatment plan for it.
However, we don’t have to be reactive anymore. Understanding why tooth erosion happens can help you prevent further damage and the need for invasive dental fixes.
The Causes of Wear-and-Tear on Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, even harder than bone. However, it can still become damaged through multiple forces, including attrition, erosion, abrasion, and abfraction.
Tooth damage through wear and tear happens with age, even for those of us who brush and floss daily and visit the dentist regularly. Like osteoporosis in the bones, our teeth weaken over time.
Some factors can accelerate the process of weakening enamel. Knowledge is power, and understanding the effect of these four types of forces on teeth can help you improve your dental health routine!
Attrition
Attrition occurs when outside forces continually wear down the enamel. One of the most common causes of this type of erosion is bruxism (teeth grinding).
Sleep bruxism is a disorder that occurs when the jaw clenches, forcing the upper and lower teeth to come into contact and then grind together with above-average pressure. Since people with this condition don’t realize they’re grinding, the force can be strong enough to chip or break a tooth and damage restorations!
Abrasion
Abrasion is another type of force that weakens enamel. Instead of upper and lower surface contact, abrasion happens when activities like eating and aggressive brushing wear away at the outside surfaces of the teeth.
The clearest sign of abrasion is often a V-shaped nick starting from the bottom of the tooth and spreading out. When the enamel weakens, bacteria and plaque can more easily get into the tooth and gums.
Protecting Your Smile: Tooth Abrasion Versus Attrition and How to Handle Both
Tooth Erosion
Erosion is caused by acid that dissolves the dentine and enamel. This main culprit of tooth decay and dental damage occurs naturally with age, but is accelerated when you frequently consume sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and beverages.
Dehydration is another offender. Our saliva helps flush away food particles and debris that could turn into bacteria and acid. By staying hydrated, you reduce your chances of tooth erosion.
Some medications and medical issues are characterized by xerostomia (dry mouth). If you have any of these concerns, talk to your dentist or doctor about your options to avoid tooth damage.
Erosion from acid is also a common side effect in people with health conditions like:
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder)
- Bulimia
- Acid reflux
- Enamel hypoplasia
Abfraction
This type of tooth wear occurs when pressure from flexural forces causes tension on both sides of a tooth. Where damage from abrasive forces starts at the bottom up, abfractions are visible from the top of the tooth and move down.
As with attrition, abfraction tooth structure loss can result from teeth grinding, malocclusion (misaligned teeth), and aggressive brushing that damages the enamel rods.
Potential Side Effects of Worn Down Teeth
Worn down teeth happen as we age, but that doesn’t make it okay.
When your teeth lose their structural integrity because of thinning and weakening enamel, it changes the appearance of your smile, making you self-conscious.
The damage to your mental health matters. But crucially, structural issues impact your teeth’s ability to function properly, meaning you may not be able to speak or chew your food correctly.
Other side effects of worn down teeth include increased tooth sensitivity when the outer layers of hard enamel aren’t protecting the sensitive layers of dentin, pulp, and nerve. When the tooth is exposed to hot and cold temperatures, you’ll feel pain, which may not go away quickly.
As the layers of enamel erode, the tooth becomes discolored. This can happen because of stains from food, drinks, and tobacco use, but it’s also because the dentin layer is naturally yellow. Extrinsic stains on the outer layer of enamel can usually be removed with teeth whitening treatments. Once they reach the dentin layer, the stains are more stubborn and resistant to whiteners.
How to Prevent Your Teeth From Wearing Down Further
So, how can you keep your smile healthy and avoid wear and tear?
It may sound challenging — even brushing your teeth can be problematic — but it doesn’t have to be!
Let’s start with the simple things you can do in the little pockets of your day or by adjusting what you’re already doing.
Add a Night Guard to Your Routine
Wear a custom-made night guard, like those we make at JS Dental Lab. Once you’re used to the fit, you won’t even notice this tiny change because you’ll be sleeping.
However, it can make a huge difference in potential dental damage. The night guard protects your teeth from grinding forces, relaxes your jaw muscles, and helps you sleep better, too!
Use Fluoride Toothpaste
To fluoride or not to fluoride?
That’s been a debate for decades, but to dental professionals, the answer is clear:
Always brush with fluoride toothpaste unless you have a medical reason not to do so.
Using fluoride provides multiple benefits. It strengthens your teeth and can remineralize the weakened enamel. Your risk of cavities is diminished by about a fourth. Fluoride toothpaste may even:
- Reverse early signs of tooth decay
- Prevent bacterial growth
- Slow down demineralization
Yes, fluoride can be dangerous, but only in high doses — which is quite difficult to reach with the typical levels in OTC toothpaste. Used correctly, it’s safe and effective.
However, parents should always supervise their children’s toothbrushing sessions to make sure they don’t swallow the toothpaste and that they brush correctly.
Increase Your Dental Hygiene Routine
What does your current dental hygiene routine look like?
If you’re concerned about your oral health, it should include this:
- Floss once a day. Most people floss after brushing, but some experts suggest doing it before you brush to remove food particles and plaque trapped between them. Optimally, a Waterpik can get into those hard-to-reach spaces under the gumline.
- Time your teeth brushing for two minutes, twice a day, using small, concentric circles with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Finish by brushing your tongue before you spit and rinse. This step removes extra bacteria and gives you a pop of fresh breath.
- Use mouthwash after rinsing your teeth to add extra protection against bacteria-causing cavities.
Add the cherry on top of your dental hygiene sundae by visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams.
Watch Your Diet
Speaking of sundaes, we’ll stick to the low-sugar kinds!
When you limit sugary, acidic, and chewy food intake, your teeth thank you. Sugar actually feeds the bacteria in your mouth and causes acid production. The resulting cavities and weakened teeth may not be worth the sweet treats!
However, if you do indulge in occasional delectable foods and drinks that can damage the teeth, be sure to wash them down with water. You’ll stay hydrated better and rinse away most of the particles that lead to bacteria and plaque buildup.
Certain foods are linked with better dental health. Add calcium-rich foods to your plate and stick with lean proteins and fiber-packed vegetables. Say yes to dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese. Snack on nuts and crunchy veggies. Consider chewing sugar-free gum after meals to increase saliva production, too!
Change Your Lifestyle Habits
No matter what positive steps you take to bolster your dental health, you'll likely weaken your teeth faster if you’re counteracting the good with bad habits.
To ensure your smile stays healthy as long as possible, avoid using tobacco and drinking excessive alcohol. Both habits not only discolor your teeth, but they also increase your risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
Conclusion
The earliest fillings and tooth restorations may have happened thousands of years ago, but we’ve learned a lot about dental health since then. With regular checkups, daily oral hygiene steps, and preventive care, you don’t have to suffer from worn down teeth.
Start your dental treatment with a JS Dental Lab custom night guard to prevent more damage to your natural teeth.
Then make the tweaks to your lifestyle and habits that can help you avoid abrasion, attrition, erosion, and abfractions.
