Sometimes it can seem like dental damage just pops up out of nowhere. You’re going along with your normal life, and suddenly you’re dealing with a tooth that is cracked, chipped, or otherwise compromised.
Why does this happen!?
Our Santa Monica dentists are here with some more information about how and why dental damage occurs. We have found that the more our patients know about the causes of dental damage, the better they are able to protect their smiles over time.
So, the first thing to know is that although dental damage seems to occur over night, generally these dental problems have been building surreptitiously over time.
· If you suffer from dental grinding, also called bruxism, this can create micro-cracks and chips in your enamel. Over time, these cracks become more severe and leave the inner tooth exposed to further damage. It’s important to find treatment solutions for bruxism, so that you do not experience premature dental wear and tear.
· Acidic foods and drinks also weaken dental enamel and can increase a patient’s risk of suffering from dental damage. Popular drinks like coffee, red wine, soft drinks, and juice drinks all contain high levels of potentially problematic acid.
· Dental infections, caused by harmful oral bacteria can also undermine the patient’s healthy dental structure. Sometimes, dental caries may not be visible on the surface of the tooth, but they run rampant through the inner tooth layers. Over time, this weakens the tooth as a whole, and may result in unexpected fracture.
Our Santa Monica dentists are here to give you all of the information that you need to care for your smile. If you have questions, or you’d like to schedule a consultation with our team, please call our office to get started. You can also submit a question through the Contact Us page on our website!