Tooth wear
What wears teeth down, and can it be fixed?
Teeth wear from acidic food and drink, reflux, grinding, hard brushing and dry mouth. Enamel doesn't grow back, but we can help — fluoride, a nightguard, bonding, veneers or crowns. The real win is finding and stopping the cause.
What quietly wears enamel away
Enamel erodes slowly from acidic food and drink, reflux, night-time grinding, heavy-handed brushing and a dry mouth. It often shows up as sensitivity, a yellower look as the darker layer beneath starts to show, little chips, or teeth that seem shorter and flatter than they were.
The catch is that enamel never grows back — once it is gone, it is gone. That is why noticing the pattern early, before the wear runs deep, makes such a difference to how simply we can help.
How we help, and why the cause matters most
Early erosion responds to fluoride to strengthen what is left. If grinding is the driver, a night guard tames it. Where teeth are further gone, bonding, veneers or crowns can rebuild the shape and protect what remains.
But the real win is always finding the cause and stopping it — otherwise new work simply wears down too. So book a visit and let's investigate together, work out what is behind it, and put a plan in place that keeps as much of your own tooth as we can.
Common questions
Can worn enamel repair itself?
No — unlike early softening, lost enamel doesn't grow back. Very early erosion can be strengthened with fluoride, but worn-away tooth needs rebuilding with bonding, veneers or crowns.
How do I stop my teeth wearing further?
Tackle the cause: ease off acidic food and drink, treat reflux, wear a nightguard if you grind, and brush gently with a soft brush. We'll help you pin down what's driving it.