Get rough with tooth wear

For example,  earrings, business cards, keys, matchsticks and screwdrivers are just a few of the somewhat inexplicable objects patients admit to using to remove food particles from between their teeth?

If we put to one side the hygiene aspect of putting any one of these objects into our mouths, their use is particularly worrying when it comes to the issue of tooth wear, which is a growing problem. Comparing the most recent Adult Dental Health Survey with its predecessor, figures suggest that in just 11 years the incidence of tooth wear in England increased by 10 per cent.

Alongside overzealous tooth brushing and consuming a diet rough in texture, using utensils not specifically designed for the job of removing food debris interdentally contributes to abrasion.

Patients suffering from tooth wear often experience sensitive teeth, which may look shorter on smiling or when speaking. Patients also often report that chewing may have become a problem. In addition: