Frequently Asked Questions

“Dental erosion” is when the teeth are softened and dissolved by acids which can either come from the diet or the stomach. We use the term “erosive tooth wear” when we think that the softened tooth structure, caused by acids, is also worn away by grinding teeth or by things rubbing off the teeth such as forceful toothbrushing or an oral piercing.

At the very early stages you will not know about it and the very early signs can only be seen by a dentist or trained hygienist. As the tooth wear progresses (which happens slowly), you may notice that your teeth become visibly shortened. If you are grinding the teeth may appear flat at the biting surface. If they are eroding they may become thinner and more likely to chip.

The best thing to do is go to see your dentist who will start to monitor the tooth wear more closely and advise on ways to stop it from getting worse.

You can try to prevent erosive tooth wear by not snacking on acidic things in the diet. All acidic things should be limited to one per day or less. Eat a healthy balanced diet with fruit and other acids but eat them at meal times.

If you know you have heartburn or your tummy contents reach your mouth, discuss with your GP on ways to control it. This may include diet changes, avoiding trigger foods, lifestyle changes and possibly medications.

If you grind your teeth it may be advisable to wear a mouthguard at night-time.

Fizzy drinks (apart from plain sparkling water), sugar-free fizzy drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, juices, smoothies, fruit flavoured cordials/squashes, alcoholic drinks, fruit teas, fruit flavoured waters. Most fruits apart from bananas and coconuts are acidic. Stewed fruit and canned fruits are also acidic. Pickles and vinegars are also acidic but generally fine when you have them with a meal.

Yes. It is very important that you eat fruit as part of a healthy balanced diet. However, we do recommend that you have these fruits as part of or after your meal

If you spend a longer period of time (>10 mins) eating fruit or drinking acidic drinks then this increases the chances that the acids will affect your teeth. Try to eat/drink acidic things as quickly as possible if you have them daily. Also watch out for sipping drinks slowly, swishing them or rinsing them in your mouth or holding them in your mouth prior to swallowing. Again, this increases the chances that the teeth will be affected.

If you have been to your dentist and they tell you that your teeth and gums are healthy, then you may have dentine hypersensitivity. This can be caused by acids in the mouth. It would be worth trying to cut down on the number of times you have dietary acids and try to eat/drink the dietary acids as quickly as possible to see if this controls your sensitivity. If it does not visit your dentist and they can advise you on ways to control the sensitivity

Grinding your teeth can cause tooth wear. If you think you grind your teeth you should go to your dentist. They will help you to monitor your grinding and advise on ways to stop it from causing damage to your teeth, muscles and joints. They may recommend wearing a mouthguard

If you have eaten or drunk something that is not acidic, brushing your teeth immediately after will not cause tooth wear. Toothbrushing immediately after you have eaten or drunk something acidic may cause slightly more wear but focus on limiting the number of times you have acids. Brushing your teeth is very important. It should be done twice per day with a low abrasive, fluoridated toothpaste.