What Are the Causes of Brittle Teeth?
Brushing and flossing your teeth every day is one of the best ways to maintain healthy teeth. However, there are times that your pearly whites may seem weak and brittle, interfering with your ability to chew your food or smile with confidence. Your trusted team at Avalon Dental Care will spare no effort to restore your healthy, functional smile!
What Are the Causes of Brittle Teeth?
Here are the most common causes of brittle, weak teeth:
- The Aging Process: The dentin, the layer under the tooth enamel, becomes more fragile with age, weakening the entire tooth.
- Genetics: A genetic predisposition toward softer dentin and tooth enamel can result in discolored, weak teeth that are prone to fracture and damage.
- Medical Conditions: Some health concerns can lead to weak, brittle teeth, including osteoporosis, eating disorders, and gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD).
- Medications: Certain medications that inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium and those interfering with saliva production can result in fragile, brittle teeth.
- Periodontitis: Inflammation and infection of the gums can attack the bone and tissues supporting the teeth, weakening them and leading to tooth loss.
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): The repeated friction and stress from grinding or clenching your teeth can wear down your tooth enamel, leading to weak, brittle teeth.
- Food choices: Diets rich in sugary and acidic foods and lacking in certain vitamins and minerals often translate to weak and brittle teeth.
- Overzealous Tooth Brushing: Brushing your teeth too hard can weaken your teeth by stripping your enamel.
- Poor Oral Care: Neglecting to care for your teeth can cause decay which, if not treated, can cause tooth pulp damage, resulting in brittle teeth.
How Can You Prevent Brittle Teeth?
The best way to safeguard your smile is to brush and floss regularly. It’s also essential to consume a balanced, nutritious diet and steer away from sugary and acidic foods. Make sure you drink water throughout the day to keep your mouth hydrated.
We recommend keeping up with your routine dental exams and cleanings twice a year to keep your mouth healthy and lower your risk of developing problems that lead to brittle teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, we may recommend a mouthguard to protect your teeth and prevent wear.
If you have any medical conditions that expose your teeth to acids or weaken them in any way, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options. Moreover, if your medications cause dry mouth, see if there are possible substitutes.
Treating Brittle Teeth
Your trusted team at Avalon Dental Care may suggest using fluoride supplements to strengthen and remineralize weak teeth. We may also recommend dental crowns or veneers to cover and protect your brittle teeth and prevent them from fracture or breakage. Your restorations will restore the strength, function, and aesthetics of your teeth.
Quality Dental Care in El Segundo and Lomita
Contact Avalon Dental Care to learn more about the prevention and treatment of brittle teeth. You can always count on our team for exceptional care and services. Call us and schedule your appointment today!
