My dentist suggested that I get teeth grinding mouth guards. He explained that one tooth of mine has already worn down by 1 mm. And although it’s taken 32 years for me to wear it down by 1 mm, the progression of wear is exponential.
He went on with the details about how the outermost layer of the tooth is the strongest. And once that’s gone, a cascade of events occur. The tooth is pushed up to meet the rest of the teeth. It pulls away from the skull/jaw bones, weakening its foundation. The gums will also push up forming uneven gum lines.
Again, these events accelerate at an exponential rate so the next mm will be gone in way less time than 32 years.
We are taught and conditioned to relate cause and effect in a linear fashion.
However, most things in the world is not linear.
A popular analogy on how success works is like drilling for oil. You drill in the direction of your goal. The initial dozen or so feet will yield no results. You could quit or keep drilling. There’s no guarantees of success. But, if and when you hit oil, the rewards pour in.