Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsErosion vs. DecayCausesEffectsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Erosion vs. Decay
Causes
Effects
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Teeth have a hard, protective covering called enamel. Long-term exposure to acids can wear away enamel in a process called tooth erosion. This can eventually lead to a variety of oral complications such as cavities and cracked teeth.
Unfortunately, tooth erosion is irreversible. You can’t replace lost enamel. But since it’s a slow process, you can take steps to prevent further damage. These include good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.
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Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Erosion
Earlysigns of tooth erosioncan include shallow pitting and flattening of the back teeth.As you lose more enamel, you might notice other changes in how your teeth look and feel, such as:
How Do I Know If I Have Tooth Erosion or Tooth Decay?
Erosion and decay both weaken teeth. Tooth erosion occurs when enamel wears away due to exposure to acids, making the teeth more sensitive and prone to damage.Tooth decayoccurs when bacteria grow and use sugars in food to produce acids. These acids can eat away at teeth and formcavities(small holes).
Symptoms of tooth decay, such as heat and cold sensitivity and tooth pain, overlap with those of erosion. If a tooth becomes infected, you can also develop anabscess, swelling, pain, and fever. Other signs of tooth decay arewhite,brown, or black staining or cavities.
The best way to know if you’re dealing with erosion or decay is to visit a dentist.
A Word From VerywellSee your dentist every six months for a cleaning to monitor tooth erosion. Consider seeing them even sooner if you notice other signs, such as acid reflux. If you can, take daily selfie photos of your teeth to document any changes over time and show these photos to your dentist.—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
See your dentist every six months for a cleaning to monitor tooth erosion. Consider seeing them even sooner if you notice other signs, such as acid reflux. If you can, take daily selfie photos of your teeth to document any changes over time and show these photos to your dentist.—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
See your dentist every six months for a cleaning to monitor tooth erosion. Consider seeing them even sooner if you notice other signs, such as acid reflux. If you can, take daily selfie photos of your teeth to document any changes over time and show these photos to your dentist.
—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Effects on Oral Health
Tooth erosion can affect your appearance, causing yellow or stained teeth, shortened teeth, or teeth with rough, jagged edges. As for oral health, less enamel usually means more tooth sensitivity and pain. It also makes you more vulnerable to the effects of oral bacteria, which increases the risks of:
Complications from advanced tooth erosion can increase the need for dental interventions such as:
Tooth erosion is cumulative and irreversible, meaning it builds up over time and cannot be undone. Research suggests that there’s a significant connection between tooth wear and declining quality of life due to oral health issues.
Erosion is a gradual process, and it may be difficult to detect in the early stages. A dentist can usually diagnose tooth erosion based on your symptoms, risk factors, and common signs of tooth wear on clinical examination.
How Do Dentists Treat It?
A dentist will likely suggest dietary changes to reduce your exposure to acids, as well as changes to your oral care routine.Other treatment depends on the degree of erosion and damage to teeth. This may include treating underlying health problems that may contribute to tooth erosion.
Other potential treatments include:
Regulardental checkupsandcleaningscan help keep your mouth as healthy as possible and catch signs of erosion early on. The following steps can help lower the chances of developing tooth erosion:
It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s best to wait at least an hour after vomiting, eating acidic food, or drinking acidic beverages to brush your teeth. Studies show that brushing too soon after eating acidic foods or vomiting may actually cause more enamel loss.
Summary
Dental erosion is when tooth enamel wears thin. Erosion is the result of exposure to acids such as citrus foods and soft drinks. Stomach acids from frequent vomiting or acid reflux can also be a problem. As erosion progresses, it can lead to complications from tooth decay.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mark AM.What is dental erosion?The Journal of the American Dental Association.2018;149(6):564. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.011National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.The tooth decay process: how to reverse it and avoid a cavity.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.American Dental Association (ADA).Dental erosion.Rosten A, Newton T.The impact of bulimia nervosa on oral health: a review of the literature.Br Dent J. 2017;223(7):533-539. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.837Campus G, Niu JY, Sezer B, Yu OY.Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay.BMC Oral Health. 2024;17;24(1):468. doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04257-yNijakowski K, Jankowski J, Gruszczyński D, Surdacka A.Eating disorders and dental erosion: a systematic review.J Clin Med.2023;12(19):6161. doi:10.3390/jcm12196161Additional ReadingHerman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.General dentistry.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mark AM.What is dental erosion?The Journal of the American Dental Association.2018;149(6):564. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.011National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.The tooth decay process: how to reverse it and avoid a cavity.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.American Dental Association (ADA).Dental erosion.Rosten A, Newton T.The impact of bulimia nervosa on oral health: a review of the literature.Br Dent J. 2017;223(7):533-539. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.837Campus G, Niu JY, Sezer B, Yu OY.Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay.BMC Oral Health. 2024;17;24(1):468. doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04257-yNijakowski K, Jankowski J, Gruszczyński D, Surdacka A.Eating disorders and dental erosion: a systematic review.J Clin Med.2023;12(19):6161. doi:10.3390/jcm12196161Additional ReadingHerman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.General dentistry.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mark AM.What is dental erosion?The Journal of the American Dental Association.2018;149(6):564. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.011National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.The tooth decay process: how to reverse it and avoid a cavity.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.American Dental Association (ADA).Dental erosion.Rosten A, Newton T.The impact of bulimia nervosa on oral health: a review of the literature.Br Dent J. 2017;223(7):533-539. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.837Campus G, Niu JY, Sezer B, Yu OY.Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay.BMC Oral Health. 2024;17;24(1):468. doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04257-yNijakowski K, Jankowski J, Gruszczyński D, Surdacka A.Eating disorders and dental erosion: a systematic review.J Clin Med.2023;12(19):6161. doi:10.3390/jcm12196161
Mark AM.What is dental erosion?The Journal of the American Dental Association.2018;149(6):564. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.011
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.The tooth decay process: how to reverse it and avoid a cavity.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.
American Dental Association (ADA).Dental erosion.
Rosten A, Newton T.The impact of bulimia nervosa on oral health: a review of the literature.Br Dent J. 2017;223(7):533-539. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.837
Campus G, Niu JY, Sezer B, Yu OY.Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay.BMC Oral Health. 2024;17;24(1):468. doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04257-y
Nijakowski K, Jankowski J, Gruszczyński D, Surdacka A.Eating disorders and dental erosion: a systematic review.J Clin Med.2023;12(19):6161. doi:10.3390/jcm12196161
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.General dentistry.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.General dentistry.
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