Tooth Wear

There is little information available on the prevalence of tooth wear. The amount of tooth wear seen nowadays is considerably greater than in the past due to the fact that more people are now retaining their natural teeth into old age.

Tooth wear is caused by three phenomena:

  • tooth_wearErosion is the progressive loss of tooth substance by chemical dissolution not involving bacteria. Erosion of tooth surfaces is mostly the result of too frequent or inappropriate use of carbonated drinks and fruit juices with high levels of acidity. This habit would appear to be particularly common amongst teenagers and young adults. Erosion is also a problem in people who suffer from bulimia due to the reflux of gastric juices into the mouth.
  • Attrition is the progressive loss of hard tooth substances caused by mastication in grinding between opposing teeth. The extent of attrition will depend upon the use to which an individual puts their teeth. For example, it will increase in people who habitually use their teeth as a tool ("a third hand"). It will also tend to be more pronounced in people who eat a particularly fibrous diet. Wear, due to attrition, can be considerably increased in people who habitually clench or grind their teeth for example during sleep (a condition known as Bruxism).
  • Abrasion is the progressive loss of hard tooth substances caused by mechanical factors other than mastication or tooth to tooth contacts. The most common cause of abrasion long-term is improper use of toothbrushing giving rise to notching at the junction of the crown and root of teeth.

Prevention

Reducing the frequency of taking carbonated drinks and fruit juices with high levels of acidity is the key to preventing erosion of teeth. Attrition is a slow progressing condition and many people will only be made aware of the damage to their teeth on visiting the dentist. In the case of bruxism, treatment may require the wearing of a bite guard during sleep. Abrasion can be reduced by adopting the correct toothbrushing technique, especially the avoidance of vigorous horizontal scrubbing action with a hard toothbrush.