Healthy pearly-white teeth are definitely an asset and certainly enhance one’s facial beauty. For getting that perfect million dollar smile, however, one needs to follow a proper dental hygiene regimen. Those who don’t do so, are most likely to end up with stained and damaged teeth. While brushing and flossing teeth certainly help in maintaining that perfect smile, it is extremely important that you use a good quality toothbrush. Brushing your teeth vigorously, especially with a hard-bristled toothbrush is one mistake that you must never make. Tooth abrasion is often a self-afflicted dental problem that arises when one doesn’t use a proper toothbrush or indulges in overzealous brushing. Friction from the hard bristles can adversely affect the enamel coating of the teeth. Tooth abrasion is a dental problem wherein the enamel coating of the teeth starts wearing away due to frictional forces. Scroll down to find out more on what causes this dental problem and how it can be treated.

Tooth Abrasion: Causes
As mentioned earlier, tooth abrasion occurs when teeth are subjected to frictional forces. Enamel is the white coating that covers the crown. Underneath the enamel coating lies calcified tissue called dentin. Dentin protects the pulp or the inner part of the tooth that contains connective tissues, blood vessels and nerves. When one brushes his/her teeth vigorously with a hard-bristled toothbrush, the enamel coating of the teeth, especially around the gum line, starts wearing away. At times, friction from the abrasives used in the toothpaste may also be responsible for causing abrasion. While mild abrasives are an important ingredient of a toothpaste, as it helps in getting rid of the deposits on teeth, strong abrasives, however, may harm the enamel. Even dental devices that may be scraping against the teeth would also cause this dental problem. Those who frequently use toothpicks may see damaged enamel between their teeth. The loss of enamel causes dentin to be exposed and this makes the teeth very sensitive.

Bruxism, which refers to the habit of grinding or clenching teeth, could also make one susceptible to tooth abrasion. Clenching or grinding of teeth subjects them to a lot of pressure and definitely leads to a loss of enamel coating at the edges. Parents must make sure that children don’t have a habit of grinding teeth or biting into hard objects like pencils or pens. These habits can certainly have an adverse impact on one’s dental health. Besides tooth abrasion, there are other dental problems that can damage the enamel coating of the teeth. Tooth attrition refers to the gradual loss of enamel that occurs as we age. This is mainly caused due to tooth-to-tooth contact that occurs as we chew food. Tooth erosion, on the other hand, is mainly caused due to consumption of foods that are acidic in nature. Tobacco, caffeinated drinks and aerated beverages are quite harmful for teeth and one must refrain from excessive consumption of such foods and beverages.

Tooth Abrasion: Treatment
The treatment of this dental problem would vary depending on the extent of damage caused by the mechanical or frictional forces. First of all, one must be very careful while brushing teeth. Since, using a hard-bristled toothbrush would cause a lot of harm, these must never be used. One must also use a very good quality fluoride toothpaste that helps in protecting the teeth. The way you brush your teeth is also very important. Do your gums bleed when brushing teeth? Well, various gum problems can occur due to improper brushing technique. Read the rest of this entry »