Wear

Teeth wear down naturally throughout life. However, sometimes this process occurs faster than normal. In that case, we speak of tooth wear. If wear is not recognized in time, it can lead to sensitive teeth, chipping, changes in the bite, or even pain in the teeth, molars, and jaw muscles.

Many people only notice that their teeth are wearing down late. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs in time.

How does tooth wear occur?

Tooth wear can have various causes. Often, there is not one clear cause, but multiple factors play a role simultaneously.

Common causes are:

• grinding or clenching teeth;
• stress or tension;
• acidic foods and drinks, such as soft drinks, energy drinks, wine, and citrus fruits;
• stomach acid that regularly comes into contact with the teeth;
• an abnormal bite or incorrect loading of the teeth.

During an inspection, we look not only at the wear itself, but especially at the cause. Only then can we prevent the wear from increasing further.

How do you recognize wear and tear yourself?

Tooth wear usually develops gradually. Possible signs are:

• sensitive teeth to hot, cold, or sweet things;
• chipped edges of teeth;
• teeth becoming flatter;
• shorter-looking teeth;
• discoloration or translucent tooth margins;
• tense jaw muscles or headache upon getting up.

Do you recognize one or more of these symptoms? Then it is wise to have your teeth checked.

What can we do about it?

The correct treatment depends on the cause and the degree of wear.

Sometimes it is sufficient to adjust certain habits or follow dietary advice. In other cases, we recommend a custom-made protective brace against grinding or clenching. When wear is more advanced, we can repair damaged teeth and restore the original shape and function of the dentition as much as possible.

Our goal is not only to repair existing damage, but above all to prevent further wear and tear.

Prevention is better than cure

The sooner tooth wear is detected, the easier it is for us to intervene. That is why, during every periodic check-up, we check not only for cavities and gum problems, but also for signs of wear.

By addressing the cause in a timely manner, we can often prevent teeth from being further damaged or requiring extensive repair.

Do you suffer from sensitive teeth, chipping tooth edges, or do you suspect that your teeth are wearing down? Feel free to contact contact us. We will investigate the cause and discuss which solution best suits your situation. Are you not yet a patient at our practice? Then you can easily register via the registration form