If your teeth are strong, proper oral care can usually keep them safe. However, daily wear and tear can make them weak and destroy your smile sooner. When your teeth become worn, they are more vulnerable to decay, chipping, and other dental problems. Here are the top threats that wear out your smile, and how Dr. Coon can help keep your teeth strong for a lifetime.

Brushing Habits

Yes, brushing your teeth at least twice a day is very important to keep your smile healthy. However, the way you brush can damage your grin. Brushing too aggressively can wear away the enamel on your teeth and irritate your gum tissue. Dr. Coon can show you the proper way to brush to protect your smile.

Cracks and Fractures

If you bite down on something hard such as ice or candy, it could fracture your tooth. Your teeth are strong, but they’re not made for crushing through hard objects. Many dental injuries also result from sports accidents. Hitting and falling could break a tooth, or even knock one out. If you’ve chipped your teeth, Dr. Coon can restore your smile with crowns or bonding. For athletes, Dr. Coon can design a custom-fitted mouth guard to protect your teeth from injury.

Grinding

Stress and anger may lead to unconscious tooth grinding or clenching. Chronic grinding, called bruxism, can damage the chewing surfaces of your teeth. It can also wear away your enamel, which increases your risk of decay.  In addition, grinding may actually wear down the shape of your tooth. Bruxism can cause headaches, jaw pain, sensitivity, and other discomfort. Dr. Coon can look for changes on your tooth surfaces, and may recommend a mouth guard to protect your smile from the harmful damage of grinding.

Erosion

High acid levels in your mouth can eat away at your tooth enamel. Bacteria in your mouth combine with the foods you eat to produce an acid that attacks your teeth. This acid can eat away your enamel and make you more susceptible to decay. The acid from acidic foods and drinks should be rinsed out of your mouth to avoid erosion. Vomiting and acid reflux disease can also cause acidic enamel erosion. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth properly will help keep your teeth from eroding.
If your teeth are worn, Dr. Coon offers restorative and cosmetic procedures to restore and repair your smile. Call Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY at (307) 672-7567 to schedule an appointment.