Dental Education
Tooth Erosion
Acid wears enamel away chemically, and enamel does not grow back — here is where the acid comes from and how to stop the damage.
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4.9 · 303 reviews
Availability
Same-day consults
Payments
Financing available
Basics
What Is Acid Erosion?
Erosion is chemical, not bacterial — which is why it can happen to someone with excellent hygiene.
Enamel is the hard outer covering of the tooth crown; it protects against daily wear and insulates against hot and cold. Acid erosion dissolves that layer, exposing the softer inner tooth. The result is greater sensitivity, higher susceptibility to decay, and teeth that begin to look cracked, transparent at the edges, and discolored.
Causes
What Causes Acid Erosion?
Most erosion is dietary. Carbonated soft drinks, energy and sports drinks, pure fruit juice, wine, and coffee are all acidic, and sipping them across the day keeps the mouth acidic for hours at a stretch.
- Frequent acidic foods and drinks — the more separate exposures per day, the higher the risk
- Stomach acid reaching the mouth, as in gastroesophageal reflux disease or bulimia
- Mechanical wear that compounds the damage: grinding (see bruxism and nightguards) and brushing too hard
- Dry mouth, which removes saliva's natural acid buffering
Signs and symptoms of erosion
Sensitivity, discoloration, rounded or shortened teeth, transparency at the biting edges, fine cracks, and cupping — small dents in the chewing surfaces.
Treatment
How Tooth Erosion Is Treated
At home, sensitivity toothpastes and enamel-building products can remineralize and harden what enamel remains. What they cannot do is reverse enamel that is already gone — check with us before adding a new product to your routine.
In the office, treatment depends on how much structure has been lost. Mild wear is often managed with fluoride and monitoring. Where erosion has cupped or shortened teeth, bonding, inlays and onlays, or crowns restore shape and function. Where the concern is largely appearance in the front teeth, porcelain veneers cover thinned, transparent enamel.
Protecting the enamel you still have
- Do not brush for 30 minutes after anything acidic — rinse with water instead.
- Drink acidic beverages with a meal rather than sipping them across the afternoon.
- Use a soft brush and light pressure.
- Get reflux treated medically; nighttime acid is a common hidden cause.
Our Team
Fighting the Damaging Effects of Acid Erosion
Erosion progresses quietly, and most patients do not notice until a significant amount of enamel is gone. We photograph and measure wear so we can tell whether it is stable or still progressing before recommending anything invasive.
Call (202) 363-2810 or contact our team to have your enamel assessed.
Why Choose
DC Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Kambez Shukoor is a U.S. Navy veteran dentist who plans and performs every case himself, in one Connecticut Avenue office.
One Dentist, Start to Finish
Dr. Kambez Shukoor plans and performs your treatment himself — the same person who explains the problem is the one who fixes it.
Explained Before It's Treated
Photographs, scans, and plain-English explanations, so you understand what is happening in your mouth before you agree to anything.
Prevention First
Screening, early detection, and routine hygiene care — treating a small problem early beats rebuilding a tooth later.
Comfort-First Care
Gentle technique, unhurried appointments, and full sedation options for patients who find dental visits stressful.
Honest Recommendations
If watching a tooth is the right call, we say so. You get the conservative option alongside the definitive one, with the trade-offs of each.
Transparent Costs
Itemized written treatment plans, out-of-network benefits verified for you, and CareCredit and Cherry financing explained on our financial information page.
Visit Us
Find Us on Connecticut Avenue
Hastings Condominiums, 4444 Connecticut Ave NW #106, Washington, DC 20008 — Metro-accessible on the Red Line, with parking in the building garage.
Office
DC Implant & Cosmetic DentistryHastings Condominiums
4444 Connecticut Ave NW #106, Washington, DC 20008
Hours
- Monday
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Teeth looking thin, short, or transparent?
Book an assessment and we will identify the acid source before it costs you more enamel.
4444 Connecticut Ave NW #106, Washington, DC 20008