Teeth Wearing Away?

Your teeth are built to last. They can even last a lifetime with regular teeth cleanings and dental care. However, the daily grind of chewing, brushing, and grinding, along with accidental injuries, can take a toll.

Reasons for tooth erosion:

• Chipped, fractured or broken teeth - Things such as chewing ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels and opening nuts with your teeth can lead to chipping and breakage of natural teeth and restorations. Teeth that have fillings or root canals are at highest risk, because they aren't as strong as intact teeth. Most frequently, teeth are damaged as a result of an accident or sports-related injury. Although a chipped tooth can be repaired, a fracture is more difficult to fix especially if the crack extends below your gum line.
• Teeth grinding - Unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth, over time, can damage the chewing surfaces. In many cases, people don't realize they have a problem until a dentist notices signs on their tooth surfaces.
• Acid and tooth enamel erosion - Teeth become vulnerable when acid levels in the mouth are too high. Acid erodes enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay. Acidic foods and drinks, and acid-producing bacteria in the mouth are prime culprits.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol - Alcoholics and binge drinkers can have the same wear on their teeth because of too much alcohol. Not only do teeth become thin and almost transparent in these extremes, but the body also loses needed vitamins and minerals, depriving teeth of some needed nutrients, too.
• Other physical conditions – Conditions such as cancer or even pregnancy show their presence on teeth, and individuals are advised to combine medical care with regular preventative dental care and maintenance.
• Medications - Many medications cause dry mouth. Saliva is necessary for keeping the mouth clean. Keeping a wash of saliva around the teeth keeps decay from forming as rapidly and provides needed moisture for gum tissue. Certain medications suck the saliva out of your mouth. Syrupy medicines also harm teeth by coating them with sticky sugar. Rinsing after taking cough, cold or allergy syrups, or having children rinse after taking them, will help keep residue from building up and attacking enamel.
• Brushing right after meals - If you have the habit of brushing right after dinner, stop doing so. Acids weaken tooth enamel and leave it more prone to erosion during brushing. Wait about 20 to 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
• Brushing hard - Some people like to brush very hard. They want to keep their teeth very clean so they will scrub very hard, but that will traumatize the gums. Over time, it will cause the gums to recede. Brush gently and spend at least three minutes brushing and flossing your teeth each time. Always use a soft or ultrasoft toothbrush.