Tooth grinding can cause the enamel surface, and sometimes dentin, to be worn away by the actions of one tooth on another (known as ‘attrition’). Learn more about the structure of your teeth here.
Ask your dentist or dental hygienist if she/he thinks you may have a problem with tooth grinding, this can especially happen at night and you can be fitted with a gum shield to minimise the effects on the tooth.
Teeth can also be ground down by other substances in a process called ‘abrasion’
- Your Dentist will tell you if you are using heavy pressure to clean your teeth
- Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about how best to brush your teeth and what type of toothbrush and toothpaste is best for you
Addy M, Shellis RP. Interaction between attrition, abrasion and erosion in tooth wear. In: Lussi A (ed) Dental Erosion. Mongr Oral Sci, Basel, Karger, 2006, pp 17–31