Teeth can often fall victim to wear and tear from all the troubles that come along with various daily dietary and life habits. They are also often something that just happens as you grow older. However, regardless of why they got worn down, there are still solutions for fixing them, and that’s exactly what we will be covering in this article.
One way to treat worn teeth is with dental crowns, and if you are also interested in those, you can visit Clock Tower Dentistry in Palatine, IL for the best dental crowns available.
With the highest quality dental care in town and very flexible scheduling, you definitely won’t regret arranging an appointment at Clock Tower Dentistry and seeing their services in action for yourself. But now, let’s discuss everything there is to know about worn teeth, their causes, symptoms, treatments, and more.
Causes and Types of Worn Down Teeth
When it comes to causes and types of down teeth, there are several. With that in mind, let’s go over them real quick.
Bruxism
Bruxism, colloquially also known as teeth grinding, is one of the leading causes of teeth wear and tear. It essentially involves clenching and grinding your teeth, often subconsciously or while you are asleep. It is usually caused by stress or anxiety, and it can be a difficult habit to get rid of.
While we will cover worn teeth treatment options later in the article, when it comes to treating bruxism, which would be the root of the problem here, there are several methods of doing so. Various medications for stress and anxiety, muscle relaxants, and even botox injections are all common ways to treat teeth grinding.
Erosion
Another very common cause of worn teeth is erosion, which can have a very detrimental effect on your teeth, both functionally and aesthetically. Erosion leads to the loss of tooth structure and is most often caused by acidic beverages and foods. Another thing that causes erosion is acids coming up from your stomach since this is known to dissolve the crystals that your teeth are made up of.
It’s good to know that saliva neutralizes the acid. However, going overboard with fizzy beverages or not taking proper care of your oral health can easily wear your teeth down.
Abrasion
An abrasion is a form of tooth wear caused by some external force. That can often occur due to excessive brushing, fingernail biting, using a toothbrush with hard bristles, or chewing on pens and other hard objects that can damage your teeth.
Attrition
Attrition is another cause of worn-down teeth. It’s also known as tooth-to-tooth wear, which is pretty self-explanatory. Typically attrition occurs on the edges of your teeth that you use for biting. This form of tooth wear is typically caused by excessive grinding or clenching and can happen at any point in life.
Worn Down Teeth Symptoms
But how can you know if your teeth are worn down? Well, here are a few symptoms that can signify tooth wear.
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Protective enamel loss
- Changes in the appearance of teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Translucent teeth
Treatments for Worn Down Teeth
While worn-down teeth can be truly bothersome, there are still ways to fix them. So, let’s go over these various treatment options.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a very common restorative treatment option for teeth that are severely worn down. Simply put, if you are missing a significant portion of your tooth structure, chances are you’ll need a dental crown.
This procedure involves caps being placed upon the entire tooth, which helps in improving the functionality and appearance of the tooth.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is another common way to go about treating worn-down teeth. This procedure involves using the same composite resin used for filling cavities. Bonding is used to cover imperfections like discolorations and cracks in the enamel, and the soft, tooth-colored material used in composite bonding is perfect for the purpose.
Dental bonding can also be a way to reshape teeth that are misshapen or chipped due to various reasons. It’s also a very practical and quick form of treatment and can be done without anesthesia in only one short trip to the dentist.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are a great option when it comes to treatments for worn-down teeth. They take excellent care of both functionality and aesthetics, as they are durable and stain-resistant and can correct worn-down teeth along with other imperfections.
They can also functionally change the shape of your teeth, as well as lengthen them. Additionally, you can choose to have your porcelain veneers match your teeth, or you can decide to make them whiter than your teeth.
Tooth Reshaping
Similarly to tooth bonding, tooth reshaping can also change the shape of your teeth, to a more advanced degree. By giving your teeth a more curved shape, tooth reshaping helps with restoring a striking and youthful smile. It is also a rather conservative procedure due to its simplicity, and it doesn’t require any anesthesia.
Complications of Worn Down Teeth
As is the case with many other dental problems, if worn-down teeth are left untreated, complications can occur. These include the following:
- Infection
- Heightened tooth sensitivity
- Tooth restoration issues
- Problems with fillings
- Receding gums
- Back, neck, and jaw pain
- Frequent headaches
- Tooth decay
- Difficulties with chewing and biting
- Yellowed teeth
- More frequent cracks and chips
Complications of Worn Down Teeth
We’ve all heard the quote, ‘Prevention is the best medicine,’ and as cliche as it might be, it definitely rings true. Luckily, preventing your teeth from wearing down is actually quite easy, granted you’re familiar with habits that lead to worn down teeth in the first place.
Conclusion
As we’ve mentioned in the earlier part of this article, fizzy drinks and foods can be a huge factor when it comes to teeth wear. So, avoiding those, along with soft drinks and other similar beverages, and replacing them with water can do a lot of good for your teeth. Additionally, avoid brushing your teeth too hard since it can damage your enamel. Chewing on hard objects is also strictly advised against. On a final note, treating bruxism and related disorders can also prevent worn-down teeth.
