{"id":2863,"date":"2026-11-05T11:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T11:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foxhalldental.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2863"},"modified":"2026-11-05T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T12:00:00","slug":"implications-of-rough-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foxhalldental.co.uk\/blog\/advice\/implications-of-rough-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does A Rough Tooth Surface Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It might appear a minor issue, but rough teeth could indicate something more serious.<\/h2>\n

We mostly think of our teeth having a smooth enamel surface, and for most of us, this is generally the case. Occasionally though, we might notice that the surface has a rougher sort of feel when we run our tongue on it and might wonder if this is something we should be concerned about or not. This problem may not appear, at first glance, to be important in the way that, say, a cracked or broken tooth might be, but especially if you notice this regularly, it is worth contacting our Ipswich dental clinic to have it checked by one of our dentists just to be sure.<\/p>\n

Potential causes of roughness<\/h3>\n

One common cause of a rough tooth surface is a build up of plaque or tartar. Plaque should not be too much of an issue providing that you brush your teeth well as this should remove the buildup and leave the surface smooth again. Where plaque is not removed it can eventually form a hardened crust known as tartar. You will not be able to remove this yourself with brushing and will require professional dental intervention.<\/p>\n

This will most likely come in the form of an appointment with the hygienist at the Foxhall Dental Practice<\/a>. They will carry out a procedure known as a scale and polish which will remove any tartar from your teeth and below the gum line. Without its removal, gum disease is a real possibility. We will also be able to offer advice on how to improve the way that you look after your teeth and gums.<\/p>\n

Another potential cause is when the enamel of the tooth becomes worn. This can happen when teeth don\u2019t meet correctly but perhaps increasingly frequently, when patients eat or drink too much food and drinks that are high in acidity such as fizzy drinks or citrus fruit juices. This is likely to gradually erode the smooth enamel surface, leaving it feeling rough.<\/p>\n

Incorrect bite\/grinding teeth<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Your teeth are designed to cut and chew food, preparing it for digestion. If your teeth don\u2019t meet correctly, this could well cause the enamel to become worn and erode the enamel surface. The best way to prevent this from happening is to have the teeth straightened. This can be done using conventional dental braces or modern, and more discreet, options such as Invisalign which avoids the need to have metal teeth braces altogether.<\/p>\n

Where damage has already been done and the tooth enamel has already been worn down and the surface feels rough, porcelain teeth veneers<\/a> can be used to restore the tooth surface again.<\/p>\n

This also applies to the after effects of teeth grinding once the problem has been resolved. Unfortunately this can often take some time as it usually occurs while we are asleep. Damage can be minimised during this time by wearing a mouth guard at night to protect the teeth from meeting each other. Once the cause of the grinding has been eliminated and you stop grinding your teeth, we can provide treatments to restore any teeth that have been damaged.<\/p>\n

What problems are associated with a worn tooth surface?<\/h3>\n

Aside from the tooth not feeling as you would like, there are some potentially significant issues that this could lead to. The first of these is tooth decay. The enamel on our teeth is there to protect it from bacteria entering and potentially even reaching the root canals. Once the enamel is damaged, the risk of bacteria entering the inner part of the tooth and causing tooth decay or root canal infections greatly increases. Another issue is that of sensitive teeth. Without the protective enamel layer, we are likely to find eating or drinking hot or cold food and drink an uncomfortable experience and may limit what we choose to put in our mouth.<\/p>\n

Less importantly but from an aesthetic perspective, a rough tooth surface will collect staining materials more easily and leave your teeth looking stained or discoloured.<\/p>\n

Should you see the dentist?<\/h3>\n

If you have teeth that feel rough when you run your tongue over them, keep an eye on them to see if they feel this way after you have brushed your teeth. If they feel smooth afterwards, the likelihood is that it was a plaque build up and regular brushing should keep this manageable though do keep an eye on it and do mention it to your dentist when you come for a check up. If brushing doesn\u2019t change anything, then we recommend that you make an appointment to see one of the dentists at the Foxhall Dental Practice so that your teeth can be checked as soon as possible. It is always best to catch any problem as early as possible and this one is no exception.<\/p>\n

If you would like to make an appointment to have this problem, or any other, checked, please do give us a call at our Ipswich dental clinic on 01473 258396<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It might appear a minor issue, but rough teeth could indicate something more serious. We mostly …<\/p>\n

What Does A Rough Tooth Surface Mean?<\/span> Read more \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t