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When the enamel of a tooth is worn away, the tooth often becomes
sensitive and is more susceptible to decay. Advanced cases often
require crowns to save the teeth.
Tooth enamel may be worn away in several ways. One or more of the
following factors may cause premature wear: |
| Attrition
is the gradual loss of enamel through "wear". A small
amount of attrition may be caused by normal speaking and eating,
but this typically doesn't produce excessive wear. More extreme
cases of attrition are typically caused by Bruxism, the grinding
of teeth against teeth. Bruxism typically occurs at night while
the patient sleeps, so often the patient is unaware of the grinding
or enamel loss. |
Abrasion
is the wearing away of tooth enamel by a foreign object. Common
causes of abrasion are:
* Brushing too hard or too long
* Fingernail biting, chewing on pens or pencils, holding needles
or pins between the teeth, etc.
* Oral jewelry - Patients with pierced lips and/or tongue often
wear away the enamel on adjacent teeth |
Erosion
is the chemical wear of tooth enamel. Typically this kind of wear
is caused by an acid. Citric acid is one of the most common agents.
Citrus fruit (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit) contain citric
acid, as do most soft drinks and citrus juices (like lemonade).
Some candies also contain citric acid. Many soft drinks contain
additional harmful acids. Coffee and tea also contain corrosive
acids. Bulimic individuals (people who intentionally and repeatedly
induce vomiting) also expose their teeth to very strong stomach
acids.
Occasional exposure to most dietary acids is rarely a problem, but repeated exposure to high levels of these acids can cause premature wear. Some common habits to avoid are:
* Regularly sucking on lemons or limes
* Regularly eating or sucking
on candies, especially "sour" candies as they often contain sugar
and citric acid!
* Drinking several soft drinks daily, even "diet"
soft drinks
* Drinking several glasses of lemonade daily
* Drinking
several cups of coffee or glasses of tea daily |
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