Tooth wear and acid erosion: causes, prevention and repair options

Tooth wear and acid erosion are far more common than most people realise, and the repair options depend almost entirely on what caused the damage. You might notice that your front teeth look shorter, that the edges have become thin and see-through, that the biting surfaces at the back have flattened, or that your teeth look more yellow because the enamel has thinned and the darker layer underneath shows through. Sensitivity to cold is often the first sign.

Repairing worn teeth without dealing with the cause is a bit like repainting a wall while it is still getting wet. This guide explains the three main types of wear, how to slow or stop them, and how bonding, veneers and crowns are used to rebuild teeth.

The three main types of tooth wear

Dentists usually describe three kinds of wear. Most people have a mix of them.

Acid erosion

The Oral Health Foundation describes dental erosion as the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack. Every time you eat or drink something acidic, the enamel softens for a while. Saliva slowly neutralises the acid and helps the surface recover. If acid exposure is frequent, the enamel does not get a chance to recover, and it is gradually lost.

Common sources of acid include:

• fizzy drinks, including diet and “zero” versions
• fruit juices, squash and smoothies
• citrus fruit, and hot water with lemon
• wine, cider and some sports and energy drinks
• vinegar and pickled foods
• sipping or swishing drinks slowly over a long time

Acid can also come from inside the body. Acid reflux, heartburn, frequent vomiting, and some eating disorders bring stomach acid into the mouth, and the pattern of wear often shows on the inner surfaces of the upper teeth. If you have reflux, it is worth speaking to your GP. Treating it helps your teeth as well as your stomach.

A dry mouth makes erosion worse, because saliva is the body’s own defence against acid. Many common medicines reduce saliva, and this becomes more frequent with age.

Attrition from grinding

Grinding or clenching, called bruxism, often happens at night or during periods of stress. The NHS lists signs such as jaw pain, headaches, worn or broken teeth, and a partner hearing you grind. Over years, grinding can shorten the front teeth and flatten the back teeth. Teeth already softened by acid wear down much faster when ground together.

Abrasion

Abrasion is wear from something other than teeth. The most common cause is brushing too hard, especially side to side with a hard brush and an abrasive paste. It tends to cut small notches in the teeth near the gum line. Habits such as holding pins or a pipe stem between the teeth can also cause it.

Stop the cause first

Lost enamel does not grow back. The aim of prevention is to stop further loss so that teeth, and any repairs, last. These steps make the biggest difference:

• Keep acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes rather than sipping them throughout the day.
• Drink acidic drinks quickly, or through a straw, rather than holding them in the mouth.
• Finish with water or milk, or a piece of cheese, to help neutralise acid.
• Wait about an hour before brushing after something acidic, as the Oral Health Foundation advises, because softened enamel is easily brushed away.
• Use a soft brush and a fluoride toothpaste, and brush gently in small circles rather than scrubbing.
• Do not rinse after brushing. Spit out and leave the fluoride on the teeth.
• Wear a night guard if you grind or clench.
• Get reflux or a dry mouth looked at by your GP.

Repair options for worn teeth

The right repair depends on how much tooth has been lost, which teeth are affected, and whether your bite has closed down as the teeth wore. We prefer to save a healthy tooth rather than crown it, so we start with the least invasive option that will work.

Monitoring and protection

For early wear with no sensitivity and no cosmetic concern, the best treatment may be no drilling at all. Prevention, fluoride, a night guard if needed, and photos or models taken over time to see whether the wear is progressing.

Composite bonding

Composite bonding adds tooth-coloured resin onto the worn surface without removing healthy tooth. It can rebuild thin or chipped front edges, fill notches at the gum line, cover sensitive exposed dentine, and restore lost length. For many people with mild to moderate wear it is the first choice, because nothing is taken away and it can be repaired or added to later. Our published price is £125 per tooth. See our composite bonding page.

Composite is softer than enamel and porcelain, so in people who grind heavily it can chip and needs maintenance. A night guard helps it last.

Veneers

Where the front teeth are worn and discoloured, porcelain veneers can rebuild their shape and colour with a thin layer bonded to the front and edge. They are more stain-resistant than composite. Our E-max laminate veneers are £300 per tooth. A trial smile (mock-up) is made first for cosmetic cases, so you can see and feel the new length before anything is final. Read more on our veneers page.

Crowns

Crowns are kept for teeth that have lost a lot of structure, have large old fillings, or have been weakened so much that bonding would not hold. Where many teeth are worn and the bite has collapsed, rebuilding the back teeth with crowns can restore the bite height and give the front teeth room again. This is a larger plan, made with a 3D scan and digital smile design. Our zirconia crowns are £150 and E-max crowns £225 per tooth. Our crowns page explains the difference.

Sensitivity

Worn teeth are often sensitive, because the protective enamel is thinner and the dentine underneath has tiny channels that lead to the nerve. The Oral Health Foundation suggests a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, used regularly, as a first step. Covering exposed dentine with bonding also usually helps a lot. If sensitivity turns into a lingering ache, the nerve may be involved and an X-ray is needed.

Protecting the repair

Whatever repair you have, the same rules keep it going. Keep acid to mealtimes, brush gently with fluoride, wear the night guard if you have been given one, and keep up check-ups with your dentist at home. Our written guarantee covers crowns and smile makeovers for five years and laminate veneers for three years. It can be reduced or void if a grinder does not wear the night guard, or if hygiene and check-ups are neglected. See our guarantee page.

Find out what is wearing your teeth

If your teeth look shorter, thinner or more sensitive than they used to, send us a few clear photos of your smile, your biting edges and your back teeth, and a recent X-ray if you have one. A dentist will look at the pattern of wear and send a written plan, including prevention advice and an itemised price for any repair. Use the contact form or message us on WhatsApp.

Common questions

Can enamel grow back?

No. Enamel lost to erosion or wear does not grow back. Fluoride can help strengthen what remains, and lost tooth structure can be rebuilt with bonding, veneers or crowns.

Should I brush straight after an acidic drink?

The Oral Health Foundation advises waiting about an hour after eating or drinking something acidic before brushing, because enamel is softened for a while afterwards.

Is composite bonding or crowns better for worn teeth?

For mild to moderate wear, composite bonding is usually preferred, as it adds material without removing healthy tooth. Crowns are better when a tooth has lost a lot of structure or the whole bite needs rebuilding.

How much does composite bonding cost?

Our published price for composite bonding is £125 per tooth. A zirconia crown is £150 and an E-max crown £225. Your written plan shows the exact work for your teeth.

Does grinding cause tooth wear?

Yes. Grinding and clenching, often at night, can flatten and chip teeth. A night guard protects the teeth and any new restorations.

Sources

1. Oral Health Foundation: Dental erosion
2. Oral Health Foundation: Sensitive teeth
3. NHS: Teeth grinding (bruxism)
4. Oral Health Foundation: Diet and my teeth

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.