What “Wears” Down Your Teeth? Part 1 of 3

Our teeth are built tough and can last a lifetime.  Family Dentistry with Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, Hart, and Fickas realize that your teeth will take a toll  with chewing, brushing, grinding, and accidents.  Three of the biggest FACTORS 

that will wear down the teeth are 1.. Chipped, Fractured, or Broken Teeth  2. Grinding Your Teeth 3. Enamel Erosion.  Today, we will discuss chipped, fractured, and broken teeth.  Teeth can be chipped or fractured when biting down on something hard such as a popcorn kernel or a hard candy.  Teeth can also be fractured when they have fillings or a root canal in their tooth.  An intact tooth without cavities, fillings, or crowns are much stronger, and will be less likely to fracture.  Teeth, most often, are fractured or damaged due to accidents or a sporting injury. The common sports that have the tooth injuries include wrestling, boxing, basketball, karate, inline skating, and skiing.  What to do to protect against chips, fractures, and broken teeth includes avoid biting down hard on ice, candies, or bones.  Mouth guards are a must to protect your teeth in sporting activities.  Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, Hart, and Fickas will need to repair the chip on the tooth to prevent further damage on the tooth.  Fractured teeth will need to evaluated by the dentist for the best treatment plan for that tooth.  And custom fit mouth guards should be prepared at the dental office to prevent any injuries to the mouth during sports or physical activities.   Stay connected to the next blog for further information on what wears down the teeth!  Family Dentistry has a goal to promote proper care of your teeth so that they will last a lifetime.