How to Repair Acid-Weakened Tooth Enamel and Prevent Acid Erosion

Enamel is the shiny, white outer surface of your tooth that protects its inner layers. As tooth enamel contains no living cells, once it’s gone, your body can’t repair damage from enamel wear on its own.1 The good news is, it’s possible to strengthen and restore acid-weakened enamel by making the right oral care and dietary changes. Learn more about how you can strengthen your enamel to prevent erosion.

What Causes Teeth to Lose Enamel?

Enamel can wear away for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common causes of tooth enamel loss is erosion caused by acidic foods and drinks. These acids attack your tooth enamel, wearing away the minerals that keep it strong, which is why you should protect your enamel.2

Typical signs of tooth enamel loss are:2, 3, 4

  • Discolored, yellowing teeth
  • Rounded edges to your teeth (due to surface loss)
  • Tooth pain or sensitivity

Acids weaken tooth enamel over time but, thankfully, it is possible to encourage weakened tooth enamel repair. This enamel rebuilding process is called remineralization.2, 3

How Does Tooth Remineralization Work?

Think of your mouth as a battleground between the bad guys—the acids that remove minerals from tooth enamel in a process called demineralization—and the good guys—saliva, your body’s natural defense against acid attack. Saliva, which contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate, helps to reverse microscopic acid damage in a process called remineralization, which strengthens and rebuilds your enamel.5

Learn more about how remineralization can reharden and strengthen enamel.

Tooth Enamel Repair: Fact vs. Fiction

  • FACT: Drink more water. Drinking water with fluoride helps to rinse away and neutralize dietary acids, and helps to increase saliva production.4,6
  • FACT: Chew sugar-free gum after eating. Chewing gum is a great tool to help weakened tooth enamel repair because it boosts that all-important saliva production. Be sure to look for sugar-free gums with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.6
  • FACT: Consume soda, sports drinks, and fruit juices in moderation. These beverages are all highly acidic and can wear away enamel.2
  • FICTION: Brush your teeth immediately after eating. Wait one hour after having any acidic foods or drinks before you brush. This will give your saliva a chance to do its job: naturally wash away acids and start rehardening your enamel.2 Ideally, use an enamel-strengthening toothpaste such as Pronamel Intensive Enamel Repair Extra Fresh.
  • FACT: Dairy and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are good for teeth.6 Fiber-rich foods don’t just help to keep your teeth and gums clean; they also help to increase essential saliva flow. The calcium and phosphates in dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt can help to remineralize and rebuild your acid-weakened enamel.
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  • FACT: Use a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently twice a day for at least two minutes.7
  • FACT: Pronamel toothpaste protects against the effects of enamel erosion and helps to strengthen acid-weakened tooth enamel.* Pronamel helps minerals penetrate deep into the enamel surface, actively strengthening and rehardening acid-weakened enamel every time you brush. Pronamel is the number one dentist-recommended brand for strengthening and protecting enamel.

Make sure you go for regular dental checkups to keep your tooth enamel healthy and your smile bright. Find out where to buy Pronamel toothpaste to help keep your teeth healthy.

*With twice-daily brushing.

Source Citations:

  1. Tooth. Mouth Healthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/tooth. Accessed 21/01/20.
  2. Dietary acids and your teeth. Mouth Healthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/dietary-acids-and-your-teeth. Accessed 21/01/20.
  3. Dental erosion. Oral Health Foundation. https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-erosion. Accessed 21/01/20.
  4. Dental erosion. Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-erosion. Accessed 27/03/20.
  5. Demineralization–remineralization dynamics in teeth and bone. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5034904/pdf/ijn-11-4743.pdf. Accessed 30/03/20.
  6. The Best and Worst Foods for your Teeth. University of Rochester Medical School. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4062. Accessed 30/03/20.
  7. Brushing your teeth. Mouth Healthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth. Accessed 30/03/20.
Protecting enamel with a tube of Sensodyne Pronamel Intensive Enamel Repair toothpaste

Pronamel® Intensive Enamel Repair Whitening

Our most advanced formulation in enamel care actively repairs and protects enamel. Whitening effectively removes stains, helping to restore your teeth to their natual whiteness.

Healthy tooth with strong enamel

The Science Behind Pronamel® Intensive Enamel Repair

Pronamel® Intensive Enamel Repair improves the remineralization cycle to repair and protect enamel.

Brushing Teeth with Pronamel Toothpaste Callout

Healthy, White Teeth: Surface Stain vs Enamel Erosion

Yellow or dull teeth could be from surface stains or a sign of something more serious–enamel erosion. Learn the differences here.