1. What’s Up with Worn Teeth?
Are your teeth looking low? Suffering from slightly emptied enamels? You might
be suffering from worn teeth!
2. What are Worn Teeth?
You know you have worn teeth when the tooth
enamel, which is the visible dental tissue
covering the tooth, is worn or significantly
reduced. Tooth Enamel is one of the tissues
that make up our tooth, the hardest and most
mineralized substance in our body. (Wikipedia) If
the enamel is worn, this can lead to tooth
sensitivity and worse, tooth decay.
3. What is Dental Erosion?
Dental erosion is the wearing away of tooth
enamel due to chemical substances. This is
commonly caused by acids contained in citrus
fruits.
Lifestyle factors that can contribute to dental
erosion include the following -
1. exercise and sport
2. consumption of drinks containing caffeine
3. consumption of alcohol
4. stress
5. shift work
Dental Erosion - Solutions from Belle Dental
4. There are different causes of Worn Teeth:
Dental Abrasion:
The wearing away of tooth enamel caused by
foreign objects, such as fingernails and oral
jewellery. This can also be caused by excessive
brushing of teeth.
Dental Attrition:
The gradual loss of enamel due to excessive
grinding of teeth, a case called Bruxism. Bruxism
often occurs while one is asleep, eating or
talking.
5. How to Prevent Worn Teeth?
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. So how
can you prevent your teeth from being worn? Here are some tips to follow:
Avoid massive teeth contact – stay away from foods that would make your teeth
work doubly hard. Biting and crunching ice, chewing hard cookies and candies are
just some of the no-nos. Also avoid chewing gum as this is one of the major causes
of Bruxism.
Don’t take too much – Too much of something is bad. Brushing too much and
ingesting too many citrus fruits, colas or alcohols can wear your teeth down.
Regular brushing is good, but overdoing it is another story. Do it at least three
times a day, an hour after every meal. Why is it proper to brush an hour after your
meal? The reason is because when you take in a lot of acid it softens the tooth
enamel and brushing immediately after would simply wash the enamel away.
6. How to Prevent Worn Teeth?
Be aware – The most important tip to follow. We should be aware of what we eat
at all times not just for our teeth but also for our health.
Ask the Dentist – Dentists are your friends. They are here to help and provide you
with the best solutions to your dental problem. They’ll help you stay away from
worn teeth and give you a beautiful smile.
Worn Teeth - Solutions from Belle Dental