In some instances, patients experience tooth wear primarily on their front teeth. While it often results in difficulty with chewing, biting, or speaking, it also affects the appearance of their smile. A common cause of tooth wear is grinding, also known as bruxism, where the constant force of opposing teeth rubbing against one another reduces tooth structure. It is typically an unconscious behavior and can occur both while awake and sleeping. It is commonly associated with airway disturbances such as sleep apnea. Another potential cause of tooth wear is called erosion, where tooth structure is eaten away by chemical forces in the mouth. It can be caused by excessive stomach acid resulting from medical conditions like gastric reflux or bulimia. Over time, the wear penetrates the outer enamel of the teeth and exposes the softer underlying dentin layer, accelerating the pace of wear and putting the teeth at risk for decay. Excessive tooth wear can cause many oral health complications, including unattractive and irregular tooth levels, uncoordinated chewing movements, jagged and sharp tooth edges, tooth pain, and eventual loss of the teeth altogether. If not treated, the teeth will continue to become shorter and begin shifting vertically to make up for the lost structure and wear may also spread to the back teeth. The longer that the wear progresses Without intervention, it may require increasingly extensive and costly treatment to remedy. There are preventative and corrective treatment options for patients showing signs of tooth wear. Treatment will vary based on the underlying cause and the extent of tooth damage, making it critical to work closely with your doctor to proactively treat the issue before more damage occurs.