Tooth erosion (also called acid wear or enamel erosion) is the slow loss of the hard outer layer of a tooth caused by acid - not by bacteria. The acid comes from food, drink, stomach acid, or the environment, and it slowly softens and dissolves the enamel. Our Tooth Erosion Acid Wear Treatment team at Dental Specialists of Turramurra finds the cause, stops the wear, and rebuilds the teeth that have already been damaged.
If your front teeth look shorter or more see-through at the edges, if hot or cold drinks suddenly make you wince, or if you have a feeling that your teeth are wearing down, this guide is for you.
What is tooth erosion?
Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid that is not from bacteria. The two main kinds of acid attack on teeth are different: dental decay is caused by acid made by bacteria in plaque when they feed on sugar, and tooth erosion is caused by acid that comes from somewhere else (food, drink, the stomach, or the environment). Because the loss is even and gradual, erosion can do a lot of damage before you notice anything is wrong.
Erosion matters because enamel does not grow back. Once it is gone, only a dentist can rebuild the lost shape.
What are the symptoms of acid wear?
Tooth erosion is slow and painless at first. The signs show up over years, not weeks.
If you have several of these signs, the wear is already moderate to advanced. A check-up is worth booking now, because the sooner you act, the simpler the fix.
What causes acid wear?
Acid reaches the teeth from four main sources.
In Australia, soft drink and sports drinks are the most common culprits because they are acidic and many people sip them slowly over long periods. Sipping a single can of soft drink over two hours bathes the teeth in acid the whole time. Drinking it quickly with a meal is much less harmful, because the saliva your mouth makes while eating helps neutralise the acid.
How does a dentist treat tooth erosion?
Treatment has three parts: stop the acid, protect what is left, and rebuild what has been lost.
Stop the acid. The first step is finding the source and reducing it. Common changes include swapping acidic drinks for water, drinking acidic drinks through a straw, finishing them quickly rather than sipping, rinsing with water after acidic food or drink, waiting 30 minutes before brushing after an acid attack, and treating reflux with your GP if stomach acid is part of the picture.
Protect the remaining enamel. Once the acid is under control, our team can strengthen the remaining enamel with fluoride varnish, remineralising pastes, and protective sealants. A Preventative Care visit is the easiest way to put this plan in place.
Rebuild the lost shape. Once wear is stable, our team can rebuild the lost shape and bite with tooth-coloured bonding for small worn patches, ceramic onlays and overlays for medium wear, and porcelain veneers, crowns, and full-mouth rehabilitation for advanced wear. The right plan depends on how much enamel is left, how the bite comes together, and what you want the final result to look like. Our Restorative Treatments page walks through the options.
For patients who feel anxious about treatment, our team uses a computerised anaesthetic unit that delivers local anaesthetic drop by drop through a tiny point, so numbing is gentler than a conventional needle.
What happens if I do nothing?
Erosion does not stop on its own. Without treatment, the wear keeps going, the teeth keep getting shorter, and the fix gets bigger. Early erosion is often fixed with simple bonding. Advanced erosion can mean rebuilding most of the bite, which takes more time and more visits. Treating it early is almost always simpler, gentler, and cheaper than waiting.
How do I stop acid wear getting worse?
Once the wear is stable, our team can put together a simple home plan at a Preventative Care visit. The four habits that make the biggest difference are: limit acidic food and drink, and drink any acidic drinks quickly with a meal rather than sipping; rinse with water after acidic food or drink, then wait 30 minutes before brushing; use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush, and brush gently; and drink tap water regularly to help your saliva wash the acid away. If reflux, vomiting, or a dry mouth is part of the picture, treating those with your GP is a key part of protecting your teeth long term.
Book a tooth erosion check-up in Turramurra
If you are in Turramurra or anywhere on the upper North Shore, our team at Dental Specialists of Turramurra is here to help. Call (02) 9488 7455 to book. The practice is at Suite 1-2, 1335 Pacific Highway, Turramurra NSW 2074, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Our lead prosthodontist Dr Anthony Au and our team tailor each plan to the teeth in front of them, because no two cases of wear are the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acid wear the same as tooth decay?
No, but both involve acid. Tooth decay is caused by acid made by bacteria in plaque, and shows up as a cavity in one spot. Acid wear is caused by acid from outside the mouth (food, drink, stomach acid), and shows up as widespread thinning across many teeth.
Can enamel grow back?
Lost enamel does not grow back. The very earliest stage of acid softening can sometimes be re-hardened with fluoride. Once enamel is physically lost, only a dentist can rebuild the shape.
Does acid wear change how my face looks?
Over time, yes. As the front teeth get shorter, the bite collapses a little. The lower face can look shorter, the lips thinner, and the smile older. This is one of the reasons our team treats erosion as part of the practice's anti-ageing approach to restorative care.