You only get one set of adult teeth and these need to last you for many years. Unfortunately, your teeth are under attack every day, it’s an ongoing battle.
Understanding what causes tooth erosion and tooth wear will help you to be the victor in the battle, along with the help of your dentist.
The Cause Of Tooth Erosion
You’re human, that means you need to eat. However, the sugars in the food you eat will be used by bacteria in your mouth. The by-product of this is acid, it is this acid which attacks your teeth and wears away the enamel coating.
Once the enamel coating is gone, the softer inside of the tooth is revealed, the acid will also attack this and cause erosion and cavities.
You’ll need dental help, ranging from fillings, to root canal and even porcelain bridges, from a reputable dentist. This will help to repair any damage and for you to keep your teeth into your old age.
As your enamel wears aware you may find that your teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold items in your mouth, this is one of the signs that you have an issue. It’s a good idea to visit your dentist.
Tooth Wear
Tooth wear can be said to be the same as tooth erosion, however, you can also wear your teeth down by brushing too hard. This has the potential to damage your gums, causing them to shrink away from your teeth. The problem with this is that it will expose more of your tooth and leave small pockets where bacteria and plaque can collect.
These can attack your teeth, causing the same issues as listed above.
Grinding your teeth when stressed or sleeping can also damage the enamel coating and your gums, increasing the risk of tooth decay, infection, and other complications.
You should also be aware that tooth erosion can be caused by your diet. Consuming high-sugar drinks, especially fizzy sodas, is likely to increase the rate of erosion in your mouth. This is simply because of the amount of sugar in your mouth.
The Solution
You can’t easily eliminate all sugar from your diet, and you don’t need to.
The secret to reducing the risk and damage caused by tooth erosion is simply to look after your teeth.
This means brushing them for at least 2 minutes twice a day and making sure that you don’t brush too hard. You don’t want to be damaging the gums.
You should also floss daily and you can use a mouthwash if you wish. Of course, it is also very important to visit your dentist once or twice a year, this will help to ensure any issues are found early on and resolved.
It is worth noting that some people work in environments with high levels of acidity, such as swimmers. They may experience increased levels of tooth erosion if you work in these sorts of industries you should be extra vigilant with your teeth and dental care regime.
