In some instances, patients experience tooth wear primarily on their posterior or back teeth. It can result in a variety of unpleasant oral health issues if not addressed. Generally, a 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 asleep. A more common cause of posterior only wear is erosion where tooth structure is eaten away by chemical agents in the mouth. In posterior cases, it is generally caused by excessive stomach acid resulting from medical conditions like gastric reflux. 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 flattening of the chewing surface, uncoordinated chewing movements, light misalignment, head, jaw, and tooth pain, cracked teeth, loose teeth, and eventual loss of the teeth altogether. 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.