Friction, wear and tear, stress, and other forces can wear away your tooth enamel. Possible ways include:
- Natural tooth-to-tooth friction that happens when you clench or grind your teeth
- Wear and tear of the tooth surface from brushing too hard, biting down on ice or hard objects, and chewing tobacco
- Stress fractures in the tooth from flexing or bending it
- Corrosion from acidic foods and drinks, medications like aspirin or vitamin C tablets, acid reflux, and frequent vomiting from bulimia or alcoholism