Abrasion and Erosion: How to Keep Your Teeth Clean and Strong

 

Teeth are one of the most important and hard-working parts of the body. They are constantly chewing at every meal and on display with every smile. Our teeth are under a lot of pressure, and we want to keep them healthy for as long as possible. Even if you maintain a consistent brushing and flossing schedule, some parts of your daily routine may still be harming your teeth. We want to help you understand the small changes you can make in your everyday life to help maintain your teeth for a lifetime!

 

What is abrasion and erosion?

Abrasion and erosion are two ways that your teeth can be damaged by “harmless” habits. Both of these processes involve the loss of enamel, the outer layer of your teeth. This wearing down of the structure is caused by factors that can physically or chemically impact the enamel. Abrasion is when the tooth structure is impaired due to physical force imparted on the tooth by a foreign object. Erosion is when the outer layer of the tooth deteriorates due to a chemical reaction with highly acidic foods or beverages or acid coming up from the stomach.

Both of these processes have a slow progression. It is difficult to notice the impact of these harmful habits until it is too late. Abrasion and erosion are problematic for your teeth because the elimination of the outer layer, enamel, exposes the inner portion of our teeth, dentin. As the enamel wears away, the teeth become more sensitive to hot, cold, sugary and acidic foods or beverages. Additionally, there is an increase in the prevalence of bacteria which can lead to a severe infection or even eventual extraction of impacted teeth.

What causes abrasion and erosion?

Dental abrasion and erosion can be caused by multiple factors. We will discuss a few major habits that can be easily avoided. It is important to learn about the causes of abrasion and erosion to avoid the harmful effects of these processes on your teeth.

Brushing too hard

It is a common myth that brushing harder will help make your teeth cleaner. It makes sense when you think about cleaning a tough stain, scrubbing harder is the only way to get rid of it. However, cleaning our teeth is very different from removing a stain. It is important to use light pressure and a circular motion on all the surfaces of your teeth. This is a safe and efficient plaque removal technique.

Using a hard bristle toothbrush

Our teeth are very strong when it comes to biting into an apple, but they are more sensitive when it comes to brushing. Hard and medium bristle toothbrushes are too abrasive for our teeth. Continued use over time will result in loss of enamel. When selecting a toothbrush, it is important to look for a soft or very soft bristle brush to help keep your teeth clean and strong.

Chewing on hard objects

We all have habits that we resort to when stressed or nervous like biting nails, gnawing on a pen cap, or chewing on a metal necklace. However, these routine practices can wear down the outer surfaces of teeth over time. It can be difficult to get rid of these manners. However, it is important to find alternative methods of stress relief that do not impact the integrity of your teeth.

Toothpaste

This may come as a shock to most people, but even some toothpastes can be too abrasive for our teeth. It is important to research which toothpaste products will provide a proper cleaning while not removing integral parts of your teeth. Below is a chart that ranks toothpaste products based on their relative dentin abrasion value. Higher numbers indicate products that are more harmful to tooth structure.

 

Regularly consuming acidic foods and beverages

Have you ever wondered why processed foods and beverages are so delicious? It is due to the high amount of acid in most of these products. While acid makes food and beverages taste good, it is very harmful for our teeth. An acidic environment contributes to the chemical breakdown of the minerals that make up our teeth structure. To maintain healthy teeth, it is important to construct a proper diet that limits the amount of acidic foods and beverages consumed. When eating highly acidic foods, pairing them with dairy products can help neutralize the pH of the oral environment.

 

Reduced Saliva Production

While reduced saliva production can be the norm for some individuals, it can also be caused by various medications. Saliva is important to help wash away acids and neutralize the acidic environment within your mouth. It can also assist in initiating the repair of the minerals which make up your teeth. It is crucial to chew sugar free gum after meals or snacks to mitigate the effects of reduced saliva production.

 Get Help for Abrasion and Erosion

While dental abrasion and erosion can sound scary, it can be easily avoided by some simple adjustments to your daily routine. Maintaining a proper diet and good oral hygiene is at the cornerstone of long-lasting happy and healthy teeth. This can be supplemented with elimination of habits like nail biting and chewing on miscellaneous hard objects to prevent wear to teeth by foreign objects. Using a toothbrush that supports good brushing technique and soft bristles is crucial to help avoid unnecessary abrasion to your teeth. The final piece of the puzzle is purchasing fluoridated toothpaste. It will clean your teeth and encourage the rebuilding of tooth structure.

Do you have any questions about how to prevent the destructive nature of dental abrasion and erosion? Please schedule an appointment, your dentist would love to help you maintain healthy teeth.