Most people who grind their teeth do it at night, which means they rarely notice it happening. What they do notice, often much later, is that something about their smile looks different. The teeth seem flatter. The front edges don't have the slight variation they used to. The smile looks less defined than it once did.
This is enamel wear, and it's one of the most gradual and underappreciated consequences of teeth grinding. By the time the change is visible, it's been building for years.
How Grinding Wears Down Teeth
Teeth are designed to handle the forces of normal chewing, which are relatively brief and directional. Grinding, or bruxism, applies a different kind of force entirely. It's sustained, horizontal, and often far more intense than any chewing force because the muscles aren't being limited by the act of breaking down food.
When the upper and lower teeth slide against each other repeatedly through the night, the enamel on the biting edges wears down. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it isn't indestructible, and it doesn't regenerate once it's gone. What's lost stays lost.
The front teeth, particularly the upper incisors, tend to show the effects most visibly. Their sharp, slightly curved incisal edges gradually flatten into a straight horizontal line. Over time, the overall length of the tooth decreases. A tooth that once had a natural pointed edge at the corner becomes blunted and squared off. In more advanced cases, the teeth can look noticeably shorter than they did years earlier.
Why People Often Don't Notice Until the Damage Is Significant
Enamel wear is slow enough that it rarely draws attention in the moment. People don't notice a tooth getting shorter week to week. What triggers the realisation is often a photograph compared to an older one, a comment from someone who hasn't seen them in years, or a dentist pointing it out during a routine exam.
By the time it's visible to the patient, meaningful wear has already occurred. This is one of the reasons regular dental checkups matter even when teeth feel fine. A dentist in Selkirk can identify early wear patterns during an exam before they become significant, and address the cause before the damage compounds further.
The Secondary Effects of Worn Teeth
Shortened teeth don't just affect appearance. As the enamel wears thin, the layer underneath, called dentine, becomes closer to the surface. Dentine is less resistant to wear than enamel and also more sensitive. Patients who have been grinding for years often develop sensitivity to temperature and acidic foods that they didn't have before.
Worn teeth also change how the bite functions. As the vertical height of the teeth decreases, the jaw has to close further to bring the teeth together. This affects the position of the jaw joints and can contribute to muscle tension, jaw soreness, and in some cases, chronic headaches.
The bite changes also affect how the remaining enamel wears. When the front teeth are significantly flattened, the back teeth take on more of the load than they're designed for. This accelerates wear in those areas as well.
What a Night Guard Does and Why Timing Matters
A custom night guard is the most practical way to protect the teeth from further wear. It works by placing a durable barrier between the upper and lower teeth, so the grinding force is absorbed by the appliance rather than the enamel. It doesn't stop the grinding habit itself, but it does prevent the damage that the grinding would otherwise cause.
The timing of getting a night guard matters. Enamel that's already lost can't be recovered through wearing a guard. What the guard does is preserve what remains. For patients who have already developed visible wear, a night guard protects against further loss while the worn teeth are addressed through other means.
Restoring Teeth That Have Already Worn Down
When wear is significant enough to affect the appearance or function of the teeth, restorative treatment can rebuild what's been lost. Depending on the extent of the damage, options may include white fillings to restore worn edges, crowns to rebuild more substantially worn teeth, or veneers where the damage is primarily on the front surfaces.
Any restorative work done without addressing the underlying grinding habit is at risk. A crown or veneer placed on a tooth that continues to experience heavy grinding forces is under more stress than it would otherwise be. A well-fitted night guard worn consistently alongside any restorative treatment protects the investment and extends how long the work lasts.
At Selkirk Crossing Dental, Dr. Cissé and Dr. Kveder assess wear patterns during routine exams and discuss protective options with patients before the situation becomes more involved. For patients who are already noticing changes in the length or appearance of their teeth, an appointment to evaluate the extent of the wear is a sensible first step.
Book an Appointment at Selkirk Crossing Dental
Selkirk Crossing Dental is located at Unit 3 - 1012 Manitoba Avenue, Selkirk, MB. If you're concerned about teeth grinding or tooth wear, call 204-481-4484 to book an appointment with Dr. Cissé or Dr. Kveder.