Tooth Wear: Caring for Teeth Worn by Wrong Brushing, Grinding and Acidic Food
Tooth wear is divided into a notched gumline from wrong brushing, biting surfaces worn by grinding, and erosion in which acidic food dissolves the tooth. When dentin is exposed by the wear, teeth become sensitive, and when it deepens the nerve can be exposed or the tooth can break. Changing the habit that causes it comes first, and the worn spot is filled with composite resin.
Key facts
| Brushing wear | Scrubbing teeth side to side causes hypersensitivity and damage to tooth shape (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
|---|---|
| Grinding wear | Biting surfaces wear broadly, exposing dentin in places (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Erosion | Part of the tooth dissolving from acids inside or outside the body (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Acid-containing foods | Sour fruit, pickled food, soda and wine cause chemical dissolving when they stay in the mouth long (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Restoring gumline wear | Composite resin is the most suitable material (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Resin for wear and insurance | Even for ages 12 and under, resin for wear or erosion is not covered (source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)) |
What kinds of tooth wear are there?
Teeth wear for three main reasons. The position and shape of the wear differ by cause, so looking at where and how a tooth is worn lets you guess the cause. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) material on sensitive teeth describes all three as causes of exposed dentin that makes teeth sensitive.
At the place where gum meets tooth the enamel is thin, and the cementum covering the root wears far more easily than enamel. So in people whose gums have receded and exposed the root, that area is notched quickly even with slightly hard brushing.
- Brushing wear: the gumline area is notched in a groove shape
- Wear from grinding: biting surfaces and front tooth edges wear flat
- Erosion: dissolved by acid, the surface is smoothly hollowed in a soft U shape
What symptoms appear when teeth wear?
The most common symptom is sensitivity to cold water or air. When hard enamel wears and the dentin beneath is exposed, stimuli reach the nerve easily. A groove your fingernail catches in may be felt at the gumline, or the front tooth edges may thin and look short.
Dentin is more yellowish than enamel, so the worn area may look yellow. When wear deepens, the nerve can be exposed and pain becomes severe, or the thinned part is at greater risk of breaking, so if sensitivity repeats it is good to have a dentist check early.
How should I change my brushing and toothpaste?
The KDCA warns that scrubbing the teeth side to side can cause not only hypersensitivity but also damage to the shape of the tooth. The key is to place the brush at the gum and sweep it down toward the tooth, using little force.
A hard-bristled toothbrush or a strongly abrasive toothpaste speeds up wear. If you already have sensitivity, simply switching to a toothpaste with desensitizing ingredients sometimes reduces symptoms. The KDCA advises seeing a dentist if symptoms continue even with a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth.
- Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Do not scrub hard side to side; sweep from the gum toward the tooth
- Consider a toothpaste for sensitive teeth instead of a strongly abrasive one
- Replace the brush when its bristles splay so unnecessary force is not applied
How does a dentist treat worn teeth, and what does it cost?
When the gumline is notched, the notch is filled with dental restorative material. The KDCA explains that composite resin, which is esthetic and can bond to the tooth, is the most suitable material for this area. If biting surfaces are badly worn by grinding, a night guard stops further wear, and if the wear is severe, covering the tooth is considered.
National Health Insurance covers composite resin only for permanent-tooth cavity treatment in ages 12 and under, and resin done because of wear or erosion is not covered. So the cost of wear treatment varies with the clinic and the extent, and non-covered prices can be checked on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service website.
How can I keep teeth from wearing further?
Do not hold acidic foods such as sour fruit, pickled food, soda and wine in the mouth for long, and cut back on the habit of sipping often. Rinsing the mouth with water after an acidic drink helps shorten the time acid stays on the teeth.
The KDCA advises correcting the habits of clenching and grinding. Watch whether you clench your teeth unconsciously during the day, and if you are told you grind in your sleep, discuss a night guard with the dentist. If sour liquid repeatedly rises into your mouth, stomach acid can dissolve the teeth, so also consider seeing internal medicine.
Common myths and facts
Myth: The harder and longer I brush, the cleaner and healthier the teeth.
Scrubbing hard side to side can cause hypersensitivity and damage to tooth shape. Sweeping gently downward is better.
Myth: Worn teeth are just age and need no treatment.
When wear deepens, the nerve can be exposed or the tooth can break. If sensitivity repeats or a groove can be felt, a dentist should check.
Frequently asked questions
I have a groove near the gum. Is it a cavity?
A groove-shaped notch at the gumline is often brushing wear or erosion. It can be hard to tell from a cavity by appearance alone, so have a dentist check, and if there is sensitivity, discuss filling it with composite resin.
May I keep using whitening toothpaste?
A toothpaste with strong abrasives can wear the tooth surface with long use. If your teeth are already sensitive or the gumline is notched, switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and discuss with the dentist whether your current toothpaste suits you.
Does drinking soda through a straw help?
The key is to shorten the time acidic drinks touch the teeth, so first cut back the habit of holding drinks in the mouth or sipping often. Rinsing the mouth with water afterwards to wash off the acid is good.
Do teeth worn by grinding return to normal?
Enamel that has worn does not grow back. Wear a night guard so it does not wear further, and if the wear is severe enough to make chewing uncomfortable or teeth sensitive, shape and function are restored with resin or covering treatment.
How long does a worn tooth filled with resin last?
The KDCA explains that the lifespan of resin restorations is reported as widely varying, from 3.3 to 16 years depending on the literature, so it is hard to give one number. If the habit causing it stays the same, the filled area can wear again or fall off, so changing the brushing method as well is important.
Related topics
- Cracked or loose tooth
- Cervical Tooth Wear
- Cracked or loose tooth
- Cracked tooth syndrome
- Mouthguard
- Sensitive Teeth