Dental Abrasion

Abrasion means wearing under external forces of friction. Dental abrasion is usually referred to wearing away, disintegration, decay, and frictional loss of dental structure. It is normally caused by external forces such as toothbrushes and toothpicks. Soft tooth brushes and flosses do not cause abrasion; however, toothbrushes with hard bristles and improper flossing techniques can lead to significant abrasion.

Dental enamel is known to be the hardest piece of tissue in the human body, and protects the tissue underneath. However, persistent frictional insult of the tooth surfaces can cause gradual erosion of the teeth. The weakest point in the enamel is where it is the thinnest. This is at the cemento-enamel junction, the junction of the enamel with the cementum, which is present just under the upper edge of the gums. An erosion of the enamel under the gum can slowly expand and expose surfaces outside the gum. Once the enamel barrier is eroded, the underlying softer structures i.e., the dentin and the cementum cannot resist erosion, and the softened tooth becomes vulnerable to abrasion.

Consequences on Oral Health

• Tooth Sensitivity –The most common, and the earliest, effect of dental abrasion is tooth sensitivity. The patient will have difficulty in eating and drinking hot or cold foods or liquids. In the initial stages, the feeling is short lived, but if not treated, it can become serious, resulting in very uncomfortable, even painful situations.

• Gum Recession –Another ill effect that follows is gum recession. Gum recession will bare more of sensitive area of the tooth to acid and abrasion. Furthermore, the gums will begin to lose their grip on the teeth. The teeth will gradually become loose in the sockets.

This condition is more likely to affect the canines and the premolars. Receded gums have a bad effect on the facial appearance of the person. Smile and speech may be affected. The patient may become over conscious of this defect, and may lose confidence. The condition is known to cause severe sensitivity or even pain if left untreated. It is advisable to always see your dentist for regular checkups to avoid such dental conditions.

Precautions and treatment

• Oral Hygiene Maintenance –To avoid dental abrasion and any resulting health conditions, the best approach is regular dental hygiene. In simplest words: keep your mouth clean. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal or beverage intake. If this is not possible or convenient, do rinse your mouth at least. This will prevent harmful bacteria starting the conditions that lead to abrasion of your teeth.
• Use Soft Toothbrush –While regular brushing is important, it is not advisable to use a particularly hard-bristled toothbrush. This will cause gum recession, and gradually result dental abrasion. Similarly, be careful to not damage your gums while using tooth picks to remove food stuck between your teeth.
• Avoid Sugary or Highly Processed Foods – Candy, baked sweets, and many commercial sauces contain natural or artificial sweeteners, and high-carbohydrate, processed foods abound in modern stores. Such foods especially feed bacteria in your oral cavity, which in turn create plaque out of it. Plaque then becomes tartar and the build-up can inflame gums and cause more serious dental problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.
• Visit Your Dentist Regularly –In addition to these precautions, it is important that you visit your dentist regularly for routine examination. Early detection of a bad condition will help in limiting damage.

Treatment for condition of dental abrasion will normally be a dental filling or provision of dental crowns. However, root canal treatment may have to be done, if the tooth gets infected as a result of delay in seeking dental help.