What Causes Brittle Teeth?
Though tooth enamel is tough, several habits and conditions can cause the enamel structure to weaken and the teeth to become brittle.
So, if your teeth are prone to breaking, it might be due to one of the following causes:
Grinding and Clenching Teeth: These habits wear away dental enamel.
Poor Oral Care: Decay, cavities, and lack of pulp can all result in brittle teeth, due to:
- Inadequate brushing, which eventually destroys the tooth pulp
- Overbrushing, which can erode enamel
- Lack of or inadequate fluoride, which defends your teeth against all sorts of bad elements.
Nutritional Deficiencies: A range of vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy dental enamel. When your body is deficient in these essential nutrients, your teeth can weaken.
For example, research published in General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed journal of the United States Academy of General Dentistry, found that vitamin A deficiency causes tooth brittleness. And a lack of vitamin D results in poor absorption of minerals like calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for enamel strength.
The main causes of nutritional deficiencies are eating disorders and poor diets in general. Also, some medications prevent your body from absorbing nutrients.
Acids: Eating disorders can sometimes result in acid damage to enamel if a person vomits frequently or sucks on lemon wedges.
Other conditions and habits that produce enamel-weakening acids include:
- Gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD)
- Severe morning sickness
- Too much sugary food and beverages (especially fizzy drinks).
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta: In this inherited condition, the dentin doesn't form correctly, resulting in the abnormal formation of the middle layer of the teeth. This results in:
- The teeth becoming discoloured
- The teeth possibly becoming weaker, resulting in fracturing.
Dehydration and Dry Mouth: If your body's not producing enough beneficial saliva to clean your mouth and neutralise acids, this can cause issues leading to brittle teeth.
Ageing Teeth: When people age, the pulp and nerves supplying the teeth shrink, an article published in the University of Missouri Extension explains. This process reduces the amount of fluid moving into the tooth enamel. Dry dental enamel is weaker and more prone to breakage.
Older teeth have also received more exposure to chewing forces and acids that gradually cause thinner, more brittle enamel.
We want your teeth to be as strong and healthy as possible, so check out the available treatments for brittle teeth and learn the numerous ways you can manage your life to prevent or reduce the chances of having brittle teeth.