What is acid erosion and how to stop it?
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What is acid erosion?
Acid erosion is what happens when acid that is found in food and drink comes into contact with teeth, softening the hard enamel surface on our teeth. When we then brush our teeth, the enamel can be worn away more easily and become thinner, making our teeth feel and look different in texture and shape.
Acid erosion is on the rise in children. Half of 5-year-olds are showing signs of tooth surface loss, while around 30% of 12-year-olds have a similar problem.
What can you do?
Dentist Professor Jimmy Steele from the University of Newcastle has the following advice to help avoid acid erosion.
- Don't brush your teeth after eating fruit or drinking fruit juice. The acids in fruit soften the enamel on your teeth and make it easier for it to wear away. Ideally, you should clean your teeth before breakfast.
- Follow acidic snacks, like fruit, with a glass of water or milk to wash away as much of the acid as possible
- See your dentist: regular check-ups should make sure that nothing too bad happens to your teeth, because it will be picked up.
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