Many people are not aware that decay is not the only way you can lose part or all of your tooth. Let’s deal with the hard tissue in this post – namely the enamel and dentine.
Like all parts of a system that are subjected to grinding action, the enamel and dentine in our teeth are subjected to wear and tear. With use and abuse, teeth will quite naturally wear out. Some wear out a lot faster than others. Why? Well, let’s take a look at the causes.
1. Improperly formed teeth.
Our permanent teeth are being formed in our jaws when we were children. Illness and other hereditary factors may cause the teeth not to form properly. Signs include discolouration, unusual shapes or brittle surfaces. Teeth which are innately weak will wear out a lot faster than normal teeth. Some unfortunate individuals may lose all their enamel before they are teens. The only solution here is crowning.
2. Attrition
This refers to the shortening of teeth due to use or overuse. People who are fond of chewing on bones, crab shells, sugar cane are prone to attrition. People who grind their teeth when they sleep at night are also very prone to attrition. When enamel is lost, teeth become sensitive to cold. Patients complain, ask for fillings, but are presented with a treatment plan costing tens of thousands of dollars. If the attrition is so bad that teeth are shortened by half or virtually down to gum level, the only solution is in fact a mouth full of crowns worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Prevention is the least expensive solution. People who grind their teeth when they sleep should get nightguards done as soon as possible. Unfortunately, by the time I see most of these patients, they already need $20,000 worth of crowns and not just nightguards that cost only a couple of hundred. Those who cannot afford end up extracting their teeth and fitting full dentures. People who love to chew on their crab shells and bones are advised to kick the habit.
3. Abrasion
The most common cause of abrasion comes from a hard toothbrush or overzealous brushing. Yes, even something as harmless as a toothbrush can cause abrasion cavities in your teeth. Sensitivity can also be a problem here when enough enamel or dentine are lost. Fortunately, most of the cases of abrasion I’ve encountered are not destructive enough to warrant extraction. Many can be filled or restored with crowns after root canal treatment.
4. Erosion
This is another pretty common sight. Teeth which are chemically dissolved away by corrosive food, drinks or stomach acids. This is big topic by itself. Suffice here to say that chewable vitamin C tablets, apple cider vinegar (for slimming), slimming teas, wines and other vinegar rich foods like salads can actually dissolve away the mineral content of your teeth over time.
Weight conscious individuals who suffer from bulimia, anorexia nervosa, are also prone to having eroded teeth. Fortunately, there is now a simple preventive measure for those who love acidic food. Acids take time to act on your teeth. Rinsing your mouth with water will not repair the damage, but the use of a tooth mousse that contains remineralising agents can reverse the decalcification process. Again, this is a preventive measure and not something that can make your teeth grow back when they have been eroded to gum level.
