Could your teeth be injured ?

Science may progress and make healthcare as simple as it can get, but the fact remains that nothing can substitute timely monitoring

IN the future, personal dental care may be as simple as swishing your mouth with a special mouthwash! Of course, you’ll have to brush your teeth regularly as well, but researchers at the University of Florida College of Dentistry say that this special killer mouthwash contains genetically engineered bacteria that might fend off cavitycausing germs.Well, while science progresses more and more to make health and its care as simple as it can get, the fact remains that nothing can substitute timely inspection and monitoring. There are three distinct processes occurring in our teeth which result in loss of tooth substance.

Attrition

What is it?: Attrition is the normal wearing away of teeth as a result of tooth-to-tooth contact, as in chewing or grinding. It is associated with the aging process; the older a person becomes, the more attrition is exhibited. It isseen in the permanent teeth as well as the milk set (although less); there is gradual reduction in the height of the teeth and consequent flattening of the grinding surfaces. As the enamel, the top most layer of the tooth, wears off, the layer beneath, the yellow tinged dentin is exposed causing discolouration and sensitivity and sometimes pain.

What can be done : There is no specific treatment; fillings do not help but caps for severely damaged teeth can be done.

Abrasion

What is it ? : Abrasion is the wearing away of the sides of the teeth either due to improper or vigourous tooth brushing or due to the use of rough toothe powder. The improper use of dental floss or toothpicks also causes a V-shaped or wedge shaped ditch on the root side in teeth where gums have receded. The fact that abrasion is more common on the left side of the mouth in right- handed people and vice-versa suggests that wrong brushing techique (particularly in a horizontal rather than vertical direction) is the culprit

What can be done : First of all get your brushing techniqued right from your dentist. Sensitivity being the major complaint, fillings can be done in the affected areas of the teeth.

Erosion

What is it ? : Erosion is loss tooth substance by a chemical process where there is obvious decalcification of teeth due to the high acid content of liquids either

consumed or vomited. It is seen in people who have chronoic vomiting and in patients with anorexia nervosa, a psychosomatic disorder where there is induced vomiting after uncontrolled eating. There is complete loss of enamel through dissolution by gastric hydrochloric acid.

Similarly, there are scooped -out depressions in surfaces of teeth of persons who drink large quantities of carbonated beverages or lemon juice.

What can be done : A good doctor has to be consulted regarding psychosomatic disorders and other gastric probles. As for the lesion, consult your dentist about them.

The author is dental surgeon and can be contacted at ALL SMILES DENTAL CLINIC, 26673439, 9845085230.