Tooth Wear

Tooth wear can affect anyone at any time, and it’s important for both your oral and overall health to address dental issues immediately. The knowledgeable and friendly staff of Gateway Dental Care are here to help. Located in Pleasanton, California, our team of professionals welcomes you to come visit our comfortable office, where we can help get your smile back on track.

What Causes Tooth Wear & Erosion?

Enamel is a very important protector of teeth as it helps keep our teeth strong. Enamel can be easily lost by acids that erode, thus causing tooth wear. There are several factors leading to tooth wear, including excessive soft drink consumption, fruit drinks, dry mouth, a diet that is high in sugars and starches, medications including aspirin and antihistamines, and genetics.

How Can I Prevent Tooth Wear?

The most important way to prevent tooth wear starts with your daily routine. Ensure you floss and brush on a regular basis with proper toothpaste and technique. It’s also important to visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning every six months.

Additional ways to prevent tooth wear involve adjusting your diet and daily habits, starting with eliminating any acidic based foods or drinks. These include any citrus juices in the form of either whole fruits or drinks. If you do consume acidic-based foods, rinse your mouth out with water immediately after consumption. Snacking throughout the day can increase the chance of tooth decay as well, so avoid this tendency unless you can brush and rinse immediately after.

If you have dry mouth, it is important to drink water throughout the day to prevent the damage of low saliva volume. Also, chewing Sugar-Free gum in between meals helps to boost the saliva production up to ten times the normal flow.

Tooth Wear Treatment

There are a few ways to treat tooth wear, but the treatment depends on the severity of the problem. There are two determining factors, one being how much of the tooth has been damaged. Smaller affected areas may be desensitized by your dentist. The larger areas can be reconstructed using a tooth-colored filling and bonding it to the tooth, or a replacement crown can be fitted over the entire tooth.

Without proper treatment, the affected tooth will continue to pull from its location, taking the gums and bone along with it, which can lead to compromising the tooth, preventing it from healing properly, as well as aesthetic issues.

With the help of the professionals of Gateway Dental Care, you can restore teeth affected by wear – and prevent future wear as well. Please call us to make an appointment today!