Do Teeth Chip With Age?
Over time, the enamel on every person’s teeth is exposed to an array of external forces called “normal wear and tear,” slowly weakening and thinning. This increases the risk of damage to the teeth, including chips and other kinds of breaks or fractures. Enamel is designed by the body to protect the teeth, harder than any of the body’s other tissues, but years of regular use will wear on even the strongest substance. As this enamel erodes, it compromises the tooth layer beneath the enamel, the layer of dentin that gives the tooth its shape and houses the vital pulp that supports nerve endings and the courses with the lifeblood of the tooth. Without the protection of enamel, dentin is susceptible to damage, making the results of seemingly simple chipped teeth more severe among aging people. It’s impossible to completely stave off the effects of aging, but there are some steps you can take to keep your teeth strong and intact for a lifetime.
The first line of defense against any dental concern is an effective oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth at least twice daily, and clean between your teeth daily with floss or a water flosser. Use a soft-bristled brush to protect your gums, and use fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water to support the remineralization of the enamel. In addition to your home habits, see your dentist at recommended intervals so that they can monitor any minor damage and repair more significant damage before it can progress. Your dentist may also recommend treatment that helps in less obvious ways. For example, when tooth decay is present, treating the tooth decay helps strengthen the tooth and protect its integrity from chipping.
Dental and oral tissues all work together to protect each other, and if one is compromised, the others are, too. In a similar way, the overall health supports the health of the dental and oral tissues. Just as doctors often recommend calcium supplements for aging women who are more prone to osteoporosis, dentists recommend certain nutrients to support the strength of the teeth. Diet affects the teeth in other ways, of course, as everything we eat or drink passes over their surfaces and lingers in our saliva. Eating lots of crunchy, fresh vegetables can help offset sugary damage in our bodies as well as on our teeth, and drinking lots of water helps us routinely rinse out our oral cavities while we stay hydrated. These are just two of the many ways the systems of our bodies rely on one another for protection and support.
No matter how old you are, don’t use your teeth as tools. Especially if you’re older, you know there are better ways to open a bottle or a package, and this is especially important for older people with naturally weakened enamel. Additionally, address such biting or chewing habits, like chewing on ice, chewing fingernails, or biting pens or pencils, as these habits can destroy the teeth and are often a symptom of stress or anxiety. If you have bruxism, which is the condition of chronically grinding your teeth, or if you habitually clench your jaw, you are more likely to chip a tooth. These clenching and grinding behaviors are often caused by stress or anxiety, and they manifest while people are sleeping, making them challenging to diagnose when people sleep alone. Thankfully, dentists evaluate the teeth and look for signs of the condition at each dental checkup. The symptoms of bruxism can also accompany sleep apnea, a potentially deadly breathing disorder that requires medical attention, and sometimes, your dentist could be the first person to suspect that you have this disorder and refer you to a sleep specialist. If you don’t have sleep apnea, your dentist can address your bruxism with a custom-fitted night guard, preventing the many damages it inflicts on the teeth and jaw. Reach out to your dentist for help preventing chipped teeth and maintaining your oral health well into your golden years.