Understanding Tooth Wear
Some tooth wear is normal as you get older. Too much wear can change how your teeth look and feel. Find out what causes it and how to protect your teeth.
What is tooth wear?
Tooth wear is the slow loss of the tooth surface. It affects the hard outer layer (enamel) and the layer under it (dentine). These make up the part of the tooth you can see.
Some wear is a normal result of using your teeth over a lifetime. But too much wear, or wear that happens fast, is a concern. It needs to be checked and managed.
There are four types of tooth wear. They often happen together:
- Erosion: acid dissolves the tooth. The acid may come from food and drink, or from your stomach.
- Attrition: teeth wear against each other. This happens from chewing, or from grinding and clenching (bruxism).
- Abrasion: something else rubs the teeth away. Brushing too hard is the most common cause.
- Abfraction: notches shaped like a wedge at the gum line. These are thought to come from the teeth flexing when you bite. They often appear with erosion and abrasion.
What causes tooth wear?
Tooth wear is usually caused by a mix of things:
- Diet: having acidic food and drinks often. Examples are fizzy drinks, fruit juice, citrus fruit, foods with vinegar, and alcohol.
- Acid reflux or GORD: stomach acid reaches the mouth. It attacks the inner surfaces of the teeth.
- Grinding your teeth (bruxism): this wears down the biting surfaces a lot.
- Brushing too hard: pressing too hard or using a hard toothbrush.
- Your job: some jobs expose you to acid. Examples are making batteries and some jobs in the food industry.
- Dry mouth: saliva normally protects against erosion. Less saliva means more risk.
Signs and symptoms
Tooth wear happens slowly. Many people only notice it when it is already quite bad. Signs include:
- Teeth that look shorter, flatter or more rounded than before
- A change in your smile, mainly if your front teeth look shorter or more yellow
- Teeth that look more and more yellow. This is because the enamel gets thinner and the darker dentine shows through.
- Sensitivity to cold, heat or sweet foods
- Rough or sharper edges on teeth that you feel with your tongue
- Dips or dents on the biting surfaces of back teeth (molars)
- Teeth that crack or chip, or fillings that break, more often than expected
How is tooth wear managed?
The most important step is to find the cause and reduce it. If the cause is not dealt with, any repair will wear away too.
Your dental team may offer:
- Diet advice: finding the acidic food and drinks that cause wear, and cutting down on them.
- Referral to your GP to treat acid reflux, if this is part of the cause.
- A custom-made night guard or splint (occlusal splint) to protect your teeth from grinding.
- Fluoride treatment: high-strength fluoride toothpaste on prescription, or fluoride put on your teeth at the practice. This helps protect the tooth that is left and makes it less sensitive.
- Monitoring: regular photos and models (or 3D scans) of your teeth, to see if the wear is getting worse.
- Repairing worn teeth: once the wear is stable, teeth may be built up with tooth-coloured bonding, veneers or crowns. This depends on how bad the wear is.
What you can do at home
Simple daily habits make a big difference:
- Cut down on acidic food and drinks. Have them at mealtimes only. Do not sip them through the day.
- Use a soft toothbrush and gentle pressure. Let the brush do the work.
- Wait 30–60 minutes before brushing after acidic food or drink, or after being sick. Acid softens the enamel for a while, so it is easier to damage straight after.
- Use fluoride toothpaste. Do not rinse after brushing. Leave the toothpaste on your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water through the day. Good saliva flow protects your teeth.
- Talk to your GP about any heartburn or reflux. Treating it can greatly slow down erosion.
When to see your dental team
Make an appointment if you notice:
- changes you can see in the shape or length of your teeth
- sensitivity that is getting worse in several teeth
- teeth or fillings that often chip or crack
Regular check-ups are very important if you have tooth wear. Your dental team will check whether it is getting worse. They will tell you the right time to repair your teeth.
This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks and treatment specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.
Sources
- Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention, 4th edition. Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, 2021, updated September 2025.
- Clinical guidelines for dental erosion. Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2021.
- Dental erosion. Oral Health Foundation.
Links checked 18 October 2026.
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