What The Tips Of Your Front Teeth Say About Your Dental Health
There are plenty of indicators of dental health, like looking at your gums for signs of recession and gum disease. However, there's a lot you can tell about your current dental health just by looking at the tips of your front upper and lower teeth. If you notice any of these signs, that means you should consult with a dentist for help.
White Tips
Normal, healthy teeth should be a nice shade of white. However, if the very ends of your teeth are whiter than the rest of the tooth, that's actually not a good sign.
White ends mean that your teeth may have undergone enamel damage. This sign is also often seen on people who get their braces off and have white spots on their teeth as a result. When long-term damage is done to teeth, they can develop a sort of micro-cavity that looks white. This means that your teeth could be on the verge of developing full-fledged cavities.
Transparent Tips
Transparent edges of your teeth mean that your teeth have been worn down by acid or another substance. They shouldn't be translucent at all - healthy teeth are solid and opaque. This only happens if enough enamel damage has occurred to reveal the interior of the tooth. This sign is typically seen in people who drink and eat a lot of acidic things, like coffee and tea, or if you've been too rough with your teeth.
Worn Tips
Speaking of roughness with teeth, the leading cause for worn edges or tips on teeth is dental abuse. If you bite your nails, chew on your fingers or foreign objects like pencils, or generally grind your teeth, you're likely to get a rough or jagged looking edge on your tooth. If you continue to engage in these behaviors, there are a few potential outcomes.
You could slowly increase the damage, gradually working your way further up the tooth. If this goes on for long enough, you'll eventually hit the vulnerable interior of the tooth that's highly sensitive and could cause some serious tooth problems for you in the future.
Alternatively, if you're fond of chewing on hard objects like nails or pencils, you could simply break the tooth once you've chipped your way through enough of the enamel. Ouch!
Regular dental care can prevent all three of these problems from happening. Try to work on any bad habits you have and talk to your dentist if you're concerned about the damage to your teeth. They'll be able to tell you what you're doing as part of your daily routine that could be inducing this damage. For more information, contact a dental office like Centre Family Dentistry.
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