Wear and tear naturally occurs to your teeth as you age, eat, and just live your life. Sometimes dentists purposely wear down teeth using special tools in order to change their shape. The goal is to make your smile more appealing by correcting issues like misalignment or uneven teeth lengths.
There are some common reasons that your teeth may end up looking less than ideal, causing you to turn to your dentist for help. Here are some factors that can wear down your teeth:
- Abrasion occurs when your teeth are damaged by things like your oral hygiene routine or your habits. Over-brushing, meaning brushing too hard or briskly, can break down tooth enamel and damage your teeth. Also, habits like tearing items open with your teeth or opening cans with them can cause abrasion.
- Attrition occurs when your teeth contact one another more than normal. Teeth grinding is the main cause of attrition, as it erodes tooth enamel and can destroy dentin as well. Special mouth guards are available from dentists to help avoid damage from teeth grinding.
- Erosion occurs when acid reacts with your tooth enamel, eventually leading to cavities and tooth damage. Consuming drinks high in acidity levels is a common cause of tooth erosion.
- Abfraction occurs when your gum line becomes worn, and can affect just one tooth or a whole row of teeth. Some dentists suspect that the main culprit for abfraction is gritty toothpaste.
If you have a tooth or teeth with unusual wear, reshaping or contouring are good options for improvement. It is a painless procedure that not only creates a nicer smile, it also can help prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay. Never try to reshape your teeth yourself, but consult with a qualified cosmetic dentist for help in altering your smile.
