Although the enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, patients manage to brush it away causing considerable damage to the tooth surface.
Some factors contributing to brushing injuries:
1- The type of the toothbrush you use. Hard brushes can cause more damage. You might need to consider to change your brush to a medium brush head.
2- How hard you brush.
3- Teeth grinding or clenching can cause the enamel to flake away from the tooth surface making the tooth more vulnerable to hard brushing.
4- Extensive consumption of citrus beverages.
The most common side effect of brushing injuries is teeth sensitivity but more extensive injuries can affect the pulp causing irreversible inflammation and a root canal treatment is occasionally necessary.
How to treat brushing injuries?
Your dentist can cover the brushing injuries with composite white fillings. This protects the tooth from further damage and decreases the sensitivity to temperature changes.
If you think you have brushing injuries or if you notice that you have receding gums, ask your dentist for the best advice.
