Tooth wear: The dilemma of modern life

Have you ever wondered why your teeth are sensitive, getting shorter and deformed? If so, then you are suffering from abnormal tooth wear. So what is that? Worrying or not? This article will give you full information about tooth wear - one of the dilemmas of modern life.

content

1. What is tooth wear?

Tooth wear is a multifactorial process that results in loss of tooth tissue and possibly the entire tooth.

Physiologically, teeth will gradually wear down at a slow rate throughout a person's life due to use. However, when the rate of tooth wear increases markedly, especially in young people, it is considered "abnormal" or "pathological" tooth wear.

Abnormal tooth wear first affects enamel (the first layer of teeth, highly mineralized and hardest tissue in the body). Then comes the dentin (the second and much softer layer below the enamel), and finally the nerves and blood vessels of the pulp.

People of all ages can get this condition.

2. Consequences of tooth wear?

Abnormally worn teeth can cause problems such as:

  • Sensitive, toothache
  • Toothache, pulpitis
  • Difficulty in chewing
  • Aesthetic problem

3. Causes and classification

The main types of tooth wear include: Abrasion, abrasion, erosion and cervical wear. It is often difficult to determine which type of tooth wear an injury is caused by because there is often a combination of them.

Tooth wear: The dilemma of modern life

3.1 Abrasion

What is abrasion?

Tooth tissue is worn down by abnormal mechanical forces from foreign objects introduced into the mouth. Causes include:

  • Bad oral hygiene habits
  • Brushing too hard/too much. Excessive flossing
  • The effect of abrasives in some toothpastes
  • Bad personal habits such as: Biting pens/straws, biting nails...
  • Occupational exposure to abrasive agents

What do worn teeth look like?

  • Lesions are usually in the cervical region
  • Widespread and shallow abrasions
  • Common in premolars and canines

3.2 Brush wear

What is abrasive?

It is the loss of tooth tissue due to the force of tooth-to-teeth contact between the two jaws. Teeth grinding and clenching are the two main causes of tooth wear.

What do worn teeth look like?

  • The chewing surface of the tooth becomes flat
  • The abrasive surfaces are usually shiny, the wear level is the same on 2 opposing teeth
  • Possible chipped tooth tissue or broken fillings, crowns

3.3 Erosion

What is erosion?

This is tooth loss caused by acid erosion of the mineralized tissue of the tooth. Sources of increased acidity in the mouth include:

  • From the outside (exogenous): Mainly due to eating and drinking (acidic foods, beverages, drugs...), some cases due to the working environment exposed to high acid concentration (such as bleach production sanitation, fresh water, metallurgy, glass…)
  • From within the body (endogenous): Mostly due to digestive problems that cause acid reflux from the stomach to the mouth, allowing acid to contact tooth tissue. Some common diseases that cause this condition are: Gastroesophageal reflux disease , anorexia syndrome, bulimia, pregnancy sickness , alcoholism...
  • Dry mouth also causes tooth erosion because there is not enough saliva to neutralize the acid in the mouth.

What are the characteristics of eroded teeth?

Tooth wear: The dilemma of modern life

  • Teeth are yellow, surface is shiny and smooth
  • The crown of the tooth becomes shorter
  • If the tooth has a filling, the filling may protrude above the tooth surface due to a lower wear rate than the surrounding tooth tissue.
  • The chewing surface of the teeth appears "concave" shaped pits.
  • Teeth stinging, sensitive.

3.4 Corrosion damage to tooth neck

This is a common condition that causes tooth sensitivity in middle-aged and elderly people. The cause is due to the bending force acting on the neck area for a long time. The lesion has a V-shaped shape located right at the neck of the tooth in contact with the gingival margin.

In the elderly, this condition is considered "physiological" tooth wear due to use. However, if these lesions appear in young people, it is an alarming situation because there may be other hidden causes.

4. What are the risk factors for tooth wear?

The development of the food industry along with the eating habits of today's modern life is a huge risk factor for tooth wear.

Many studies have demonstrated that frequency of eating/consumption of acidic foods is more important than total intake in causing tooth wear.

Some acidic foods and drinks can cause tooth tissue erosion, such as:

  • Carbonated drinks
  • Sports drinks, energy drinks
  • Wine
  • Fruit juices, sour fruits.
  • Pickled vegetables

In addition, many factors are associated with a high-risk lifestyle, such as:

  • Diet, weight loss with acidic drinks
  • Not rehydrating enough or drinking acidic drinks after sports
  • Stress causes teeth grinding, teeth clenching day and night
  • Bad habits such as biting pens, biting nails, sucking on a pipe, biting nuts, biting foreign and hard objects, etc.

5. What to do to prevent?

Tooth wear: The dilemma of modern life

The following tips can help you avoid unwanted tooth wear.

5.1 Things to do:

  • Always provide enough water for the body, as well as minimize the use of drinks that can cause dry mouth such as alcohol, caffeinated drinks ...
  • Minimize the use of acidic foods and identify acidic foods on product packaging. Especially citric, ascorbic, sodium citrate, tartaric, phosphoric, acetic, latic, malic and fumaric acids.
  • Acidic drinks must be consumed quickly. Should use smoking, avoid sipping or gargling with this drink.
  • Use naturally acidic fruits, in moderation.
  • Chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate saliva production, which helps neutralize acids after eating. However, you should not chew gum too often because it can lead to disease in the jaw joint.
  • You should brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush with a small head, using a gentle circular motion with the bristles tilted 45 degrees towards the gums.
  • See your dentist right away if you have tooth sensitivity/sensitivity or any signs of tooth wear.

5.2 Things to avoid:

  • Avoid acidic foods and foods high in sugar between meals, and reduce snacking.
  • Do not chew on highly acidic drugs or vitamin supplements, but swallow the tablet whole
  • Avoid bad habits such as: sucking a piece of lemon, biting a pen, plucking a wire or biting a fishing line...
  • Some medications can have the side effect of causing dry mouth and reducing the protection of saliva. If so, talk to your doctor about another drug that works the same way.
  • Do not brush too hard, do not floss harshly.
  • Absolutely do not brush your teeth immediately after using acidic foods or drinks, wait at least 1 hour afterwards.
  • Some whitening creams have a corrosive effect on teeth.

6. Can worn teeth be treated?

The answer is no. This is a loss of tooth substance and cannot be reversed. However, it can be restored with dental tissue replacement materials.

Depending on the cause and extent of wear, the doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment plan:

  • Prevention and control to avoid aggravation.
  • Advice on changing diet and living habits
  • Chewing tray to avoid contact with teeth, protect teeth when grinding
  • Chemical measures to help relieve symptoms and remineralize tooth tissue (such as Fluor, CCP - ACP, gel to reduce sensitivity ...)
  • Restoration of lost tooth tissue: Fillings, crowns...

The most important thing is that as soon as there are first signs that make you think you are suffering from abnormal tooth wear, do not subjectively ignore it, but go to the dentist immediately for examination and appropriate treatment. Also, do not forget to have regular dental check-ups to detect timely and avoid unnecessary consequences of this tooth wear.

See more dental diseases here ⇓⇓⇓