What Causes My Teeth To Wear And Chip?


People often ask me why their teeth are chipping in front, or getting shorter. This is often caused by clenching and grinding of teeth. This is called bruxism, and it can be caused by several factors.

Causes Of Bruxism

There are three things that cause bruxism.

It can be a habit the person has picked up. It can be caused by stress. And, lastly, there can be a mismatch between where a person’s jaw wants to bite together, and where their teeth want to bite together.

Preventing Bruxism

There are several things a person can do to help prevent this problem.

The person can stop the behavior. If this is a habit that someone has, it may be a good idea to cultivate a different habit. To do this, the person could place their tongue on the back of their top front teeth. That slightly opens the mouth, and helps relax the jaw.

A person could also get a custom-made guard. This is especially helpful in situations where a person has a mismatch between where their teeth want to bite together, and their jaw wants to bite together. The guard can be made by a dentist.

Avoid using the front teeth as a tool, such as for holding nails, or tearing tape and packaging.

If a person has a guard, it’s best to wear it when the damage is happening. This might be at night, or during the day.

Repairing The Damage

There are several repair options if a person has damaged their teeth through clenching or grinding. These includes crowns, veneers, or fillings. It’s important to see a dentist regarding the worn or chipped teeth.