Ask the Expert - Dr. Albert Muntané, Superior Smiles
Dr. Albert Muntané, Clinical Director at Superior Smiles in Knutsford
It’s not always what youíre eating - when unexplained changes to your teeth could be telling you something more
We often associate tooth wear with the obvious things; fizzy drinks, too much sugar, acidic foods or simply not looking after our teeth well enough.
But what happens when you’re doing all the right things and your teeth are still changing?
At Superior Smiles, we sometimes see patients who are frustrated because they feel they have looked after their teeth, yet they are noticing increasing sensitivity, thinning enamel, chipping, shortening or changes to the shape and appearance of their smile.
The answer is not always sitting on your plate.
Acid can come from within
Acid erosion occurs when the surface of the teeth is repeatedly exposed to acid. While this can come from food and drink, stomach acid can also reach the mouth and gradually affect the enamel.
Reflux is one possible cause, and it does not always present as the classic burning sensation we tend to associate with heartburn.Some people experience a sour or unpleasant taste in the mouth, particularly in the morning. Others may notice throat clearing, hoarseness, coughing, disturbed sleep or discomfort after eating. Feeling unusually full after meals or experiencing bloating and indigestion can also be worth discussing with your doctor.
Mouth breathing and a persistently dry mouth can add another layer to the problem. Saliva plays an important role in protecting the teeth, so when the mouth is dry, that natural protection is reduced.
Your teeth can tell a story
One of the reasons a comprehensive dental examination matters is that the pattern of wear can sometimes give us clues.
Rather than simply assuming somebody is consuming too many acidic foods or drinks, we want to understand why the changes are happening.
Where is the wear occurring? Is it affecting particular surfaces of the teeth? Has the bite changed? Are the teeth becoming shorter or thinner? Is there sensitivity? Are restorations repeatedly chipping or failing? Sometimes the mouth is showing us the effects of something that has been happening quietly for years.
Treat the cause, then the smile
If we identify significant tooth wear, our first priority is not simply to cover it up. We need to understand what may be contributing to it, protect the remaining tooth structure and plan treatment around the way the teeth function together.
Once the underlying factors have been considered, worn teeth can often be restored beautifully.
Depending on the individual case, this may involve carefully planned porcelain restorations to rebuild lost tooth structure, restore natural proportions and improve the smile while still ensuring the result looks like you.
Because good dentistry should never begin with simply making teeth look better. It should begin with understanding why they changed in the first place.
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