Tooth wear is a common issue and if you feel that your teeth are worn down, chipped or the edges are becoming more flat, then you may require some treatment to prevent further damage to the teeth and possible eventual tooth loss. Catching this problem earlier in your life is better than allowing damage to occur and treating it later.

Causes of worn teeth

Teeth grinding and clenching

It is now known that the most people have a habit of clenching, grinding or rubbing their teeth together when they are not thinking about it – either when they are asleep or when they are awake. How common this occurrence is has come as a surprise to researchers, and we are unsure exactly why people do it – though there has been found to be a link between increased stress levels and increased levels of tooth grinding.

Sometimes a tooth grinding habit can not lead to any serious problems over a lifetime other than some mild tooth wear. However, as the forces we put through our teeth in this kind of grinding are about 8x more than when we bite into food, there are many cases where problems can occur and intervention with dental treatment is recommended.

Acid erosion

Tooth surface loss can also occur from acid erosion. Excess acid in the mouth can come from our diets – citrus fruits and fizzy drinks – or it can come from our stomach acid coming up the throat and into the mouth, known as acid reflux.

Signs and symptoms of worn teeth

There are often no symptoms until tooth wear is advanced. However here are some possible signs and symptoms:

• Pain and sensitivity on biting, or sensitivity to hot or cold
• Hairline fractures of teeth
• Pieces of tooth or filling breaking away
• Severely worn down teeth which can wear down to the nerve of the tooth
• Aches and tension in the facial chewing muscles
• Headaches, particularly soon after waking

Treatment for worn teeth

We pay close attention to wear and tear and take measures to correct the problem at the first signs. For example, if your issues are caused by teeth grinding, your dentist may recommend that you wear a bite guard at night.

If the wear is moderate or severe, you may need treatment of the worn teeth not only to restore the damage already done, but to strengthen and protect the teeth from any future excess wear.

This is a complex area of dentistry as we are establishing a new biting position by rebuilding what has been lost through tooth wear.

Your dentist will advise you whether you need a part mouth or full mouth reconstruction and will advise on the types of restorations available whether that be composite rebuilds, crowns or implants.

Book your consultation

If you are concerned about your worn teeth please contact Triangle Dental on 0118 942 7113 to book a consultation.