Worn Teeth and Treatments

24 February 2014

Worn Teeth and Treatments

Teeth wear out as people age. The enamel, the hardest and most highly mineralized substance which make up the teeth, gets worn through the combined, cumulative effects of attrition, abrasion and erosion on a daily basis.

Attrition is the gradual loss of enamel through tooth-to-tooth friction whenever we are grinding or clenching our teeth, including when we eat or speak. Bruxism is an extreme case of attrition which is involuntary, often unconscious, that sometimes happen during sleep or when stressed. Abrasion, on the other hand, is the wearing away of tooth enamel caused by brushing teeth too hard, flossing too hard, biting on hard objects like fingernails and other foreign objects in the mouth, including oral jewelry.

Erosion is the chemical wear of tooth enamel, typically by the acids in the mouth produced by plaque bacteria as well as from directly imbibing acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits, coffee, tea, softdrinks and liquor. Bulimic individuals and those with acid-reflux and other gastrointestinal conditions also subject their teeth to exposure to strong stomach acids.

Attrition, abrasion and erosion, unless abated, will eventually chip, crack and/or corrode the enamel, and lead to tooth decay or tooth loss. Unlike bones, tooth enamel is not made up of living tissue cells and therefore cannot heal or repair itself. For this reason, permanent teeth need to be prevented from being completely worn down. Attrition and abrasion can be held in check simply by being conscious and mindful of your biting, grinding and teeth clenching habits. For starters, you can avoid biting down not only on hard foreign objects but also on hard foods like bones, ice and hard candies. Wear a mouth guard if you play sports not only to minimise risk of injury but also to protect against stress-induced teeth grinding and clenching. Of course, it also helps to just avoid any stressful or frustrating situation. In cases where the habit of teeth grinding and teeth clenching is traceable to a poor bite resulting from irregularly sized or shaped teeth, your dentist may fit you with a specially customised mouth appliance to improve and realign that bite. In certain cases, you may be asked to undergo corrective dental work, including possible orthognathic surgery.

With respect to teeth erosion, you can make your teeth stronger and more resistant to the corrosive acids in the mouth by regularly ingesting fluoridated water and eating foods with fluoride like meats, fish and eggs and by using fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash as well as by periodically getting in-office professional fluoride treatments from your dentist. Fluoride strengthens teeth by speeding up the remineralisation of the enamel and stopping bacteria from making acids. You can also ask your dentist to seal the fits and fissures in your back teeth. Avoid eating sweets, fatty foods and highly acidic foods. Consult your doctor if you suffer from bulimia, chronic gastritis, frequent vomiting related to pregnancy or gastroesophageal reflux disease which can make the strong stomach acids to go up into the esophagus, or even into the mouth, where they can erode your teeth.