Tooth erosion

Tooth erosion is when the hard outer layer of your tooth (enamel) starts to wear away. It’s often caused by eating acidic food and drinks. Over time, tooth erosion can make your teeth feel painful and sensitive. But there are things you can do to stop it getting worse.

About tooth erosion

You might sometimes hear tooth erosion referred to as enamel erosion or dental erosion. It’s different to tooth decay, which happens when sugary foods and poor brushing cause plaque to build up on your teeth. The acids in plaque then create holes (cavities) in your teeth.

Tooth erosion on the other hand, happens when the acid in food and drinks attack the surface of your teeth directly. Usually, the saliva in your mouth neutralises these acids. But if you eat lots of acidic food and drinks, or don’t clean your teeth properly, these acids will gradually build up and start to dissolve your enamel. As your enamel gets thinner, it exposes the sensitive layer inside your teeth, called dentine. This can make your teeth more likely to feel sensitive, change colour or develop holes.

What causes tooth erosion?

Tooth erosion is mainly caused by eating or drinking acidic foods like:

• fruit juices
• smoothies
• fizzy drinks (regular and diet)
• energy drinks
• sports drinks
• fizzy alcopops
• flavoured fizzy water (if you drink a lot of it)
• wine
• vinegary foods, like dressings and pickles
• citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges

Tooth erosion can also happen if you have a health condition that allows stomach acids to come up into your mouth and harm your teeth, such as:

• acid reflux
• bulimia
• hiatus hernia
• vomiting during pregnancy

Other causes of tooth erosion include:

• grinding your teeth (Bruxism)
• taking certain medications
• a condition called dry mouth, which reduces saliva flow
• brushing too hard

Symptoms of tooth erosion

If you have tooth erosion, you might notice:

• sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods
• Finish meals with cheese or milk, which neutralise acids in the mouth
• your teeth look darker or yellow, because the dentine is showing
• smooth, rounded, or shiny spots on your teeth
• cracks or chips in your teeth

Diagnosis of tooth erosion

If you think you might have enamel erosion, make an appointment to see a dentist. They’ll be able to tell if you have tooth erosion by doing a thorough examination of your mouth. Your dentist will look for signs of tooth erosion like thinning enamel, discoloration, smooth or shiny surfaces, and sensitivity. They might ask you about your diet, any habits like teeth grinding, or medical conditions that could be causing your erosion. Sometimes, your dentist may take a dental x-ray so they can get a closer look at the dentine inside your tooth. This helps them to see how bad the erosion is and whether or not you need treatment.

Tooth erosion treatment

You don’t always need dental erosion treatment. If your tooth erosion is mild, you might be able to stop it from getting worse by making changes to your diet and teeth cleaning routine at home. If your dentist thinks your erosion is due to an underlying medical condition, they’ll refer you to a GP for treatment.

But if your tooth enamel loss is more advanced, your dentist might suggest the following enamel erosion treatments.

If your dental erosion is still in the early stages, your dentist may recommend using fluoride treatments to fix the enamel on your teeth. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to remineralise and strengthen your tooth enamel. It’s found in most toothpastes and mouthwashes. Your dentist might recommend special fluoride products for you to use at home. Or they might apply a fluoride-rich gel, paste or varnish directly to your teeth.

If tooth erosion is making your teeth appear yellow or brown, your dentist might suggest applying a resin to your teeth to help restore their natural colour. This is sometimes known as composite bonding, tooth bonding or dental bonding. To do this, your dentist will roughen the surface of your tooth, coat it with a sticky liquid, apply the resin and then harden it with a special light. Then they’ll shape and polish the resin so it matches the rest of your tooth as closely as possible.

If your enamel erosion is severe, your dentist may recommend you have veneers fitted. These are very thin porcelain shells that are attached to the front surface of your tooth to protect them and improve their appearance. This procedure is usually done in two stages. First, your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing a thin layer of enamel. They’ll take an impression of your mouth and send this off to a lab to custom-make your veneers. They might attach a temporary veneer while you wait. Once your veneers are ready, your dentist will attach them to your teeth using a strong glue during a second appointment.

If your tooth has become severely eroded, weak or damaged, your dentist might suggest treating it with a dental crown. This is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over the top of your entire tooth. It helps to protect your damaged tooth and make it look more like your other teeth. A dental crown is usually fitted in two appointments. During the first, your dentist will remove the damaged parts of your tooth and shape it to fit your new crown. They’ll usually fit a temporary crown and take an impression of your mouth to send off to a lab where your custom crown is made. Once your crown is ready, you’ll attend another appointment where your dentist will cement it in place permanently.

How to prevent tooth erosion

The best way to stop tooth erosion is to take good care of your teeth, visit your dentist regularly and eat a healthy diet. And if you already have some tooth erosion, these things will also help to stop it getting worse.

• Limit acidic food and drinks to meal times; avoid having them as snacks throughout the day.
• Eat cheese or milk at the end of a meal, which help neutralise acids in your mouth.
• Chew sugar-free gum after meals to boost saliva, which protects your teeth.
• Choose non-acidic drinks like plain water, milk, tea or coffee.
• Use a straw for acidic drinks and avoid swishing them around your mouth.
• After having acidic foods or drinks, wait an hour before brushing your teeth to avoid further damage.
• Brush your teeth gently with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Spit instead of rinsing when your brush your teeth, so you don’t wash away the fluoride in your toothpaste.