Question: What is the hardest part of the human body?
Answer: Your tooth enamel.
Yes, that's right, your tooth enamel is harder than your skull or your femur.
While there is no doubt that tooth enamel is strong, it is also quite delicate. For this reason, along with many others, caring for your teeth is extremely important. There are some habits and foods that can cause your tooth enamel to break down or erode.
For starters, everyone loves to chew on ice (at least it seems that way). However, chewing on ice can cause a ton of damage to your tooth enamel. Similarly, chewing into a popcorn kernel can cause your tooth enamel to wear down. In addition, chewing on your nails and having mouth jewelry are typical causes of weakened enamel as well.
Some other things which might weaken tooth enamel include fruits that contain citric acid, chewing on pens or pencils, inadequate oral health care, and much more!
While all of the above can cause your tooth enamel to wear down, one of the most common reasons for damaged tooth enamel is bruxism. Bruxism is the act of constantly grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. When your teeth are worn down because of bruxism, this is termed attrition. If your attrition is extreme enough, your root dentin will come to be exposed, inducing high sensitivity and some yellowing. In addition to weakening your teeth, grinding and clenching might damage the ligaments around your jaw and alveolar bone.
If left neglected, bruxism may even cause periodontal disease to form. This would be in addition to tooth staining, sensitivity, and an increase in tooth decay.
Need an Appointment?
If you are suffering from bruxism, contact Dr. Florian and his staff at Royalton Dental Associates in North Royalton, OH. A bite guard can help alleviate your condition. This is done by giving your teeth and jaw an area to rest.