Cold that suddenly stings
As enamel thins, cold drinks may cause a quick, sharp response. Note which teeth react, whether hot drinks have the same effect, and whether the feeling passes in seconds or lingers.
Restorative Dentistry
Acid-Wear Treatment in Erin
Protecting worn enamel is mostly daily work, done between appointments. Erin patients can have acid wear assessed, leave with a routine that suits their teeth, and return only when repairs or reviews are due.
Care that starts at homeBook an acid-wear assessment
Your routine does more than you might think
Much of what protects worn enamel happens at the bathroom sink and the kitchen table. Erosion occurs when acid softens enamel repeatedly until it dissolves, a chemical process separate from the bacteria that cause cavities, although both can affect the same teeth. It can bring sensitivity, smooth hollows and edges that look thin.
Which acids matter for you depends on your days: citrus, pop, hot lemon water, reflux, vomiting, a dry mouth from medication. Your bite can focus wear in particular places. Once the dentist knows the likely contributors, home care can be tailored to slow them, and repairs can be saved for teeth that need them.
For Erin and Hillsburgh patients, the first appointment is a chance to set up a routine you can manage on your own. Tell us what you drink, when teeth are sensitive and whether your bite has changed.
Early warning signs
Notice these, then mention them
Sensitivity or a slight change in how a tooth looks is often the first sign. An exam separates erosion from decay, brushing abrasion, grinding and other causes of discomfort.
Edges that look fragile
Upper front teeth may look translucent, chipped or shorter than before. With photographs and an examination, the dentist can work out whether wear is active, older and stable, or something else.
Hollows in back teeth
Smooth dips on chewing surfaces, or fillings that now sit higher than the surrounding enamel, can suggest loss. Food may catch in places it never used to. The bite is checked too, because grinding often adds to acid damage.
Colour change alone does not prove erosion. A bleaching kit or a switch of paste can wait until the reason your teeth look different has been worked out.
What treatment can offer
A home routine that slows the wear
Early care typically focuses on what you can change: fewer acid exposures, a fluoride product suited to your teeth, sensible brushing habits, and a conversation with your doctor if reflux or repeated vomiting might be contributing. These steps also tend to ease sensitivity.
Lost enamel cannot regrow. When wear causes discomfort, makes chewing harder or changes the look of a tooth, restorations may be planned together with prevention. How much tooth remains and the pattern of loss guide whether a limited composite repair or a more involved plan makes sense.
Patient information: ADA — dietary acids and teeth
Advice you can follow alone
Linking your habits and symptoms to the wear pattern gives specific steps rather than a long list of forbidden foods.
A protected starting point
Reducing acid at home before restoring helps new work last, and the routine continues to protect teeth between visits.
Visits kept purposeful
Some teeth need only observation, others need repair. The plan makes clear when you need to come in and why.
How the visit runs
Assess, explain, equip, review
The appointment links what you feel with what can be seen. Not everything has to happen at once: repairs can wait until your new routine has had time to work, or until a doctor has looked into reflux or another medical source of acid.
Describe your habits
Tell us about sensitivity, appearance changes, typical drinks and meals, and health concerns. Bring your medication list and the toothpaste and mouthwash you currently use.
Examine and record
The dentist looks closely at enamel, existing fillings and the bite. Photos or scans can capture a baseline, and X-rays are taken only when a specific question calls for them.
Set up your routine
We discuss likely causes, products and brushing habits that suit your teeth, and whether any repair is needed now. Ask which steps slow the wear and which replace what is lost.
Check the results
Review visits compare your teeth and symptoms with the baseline. If wear continues, sensitivity changes or a restoration needs work, the plan is revised.
Your home routine
Three habits worth building
Use the specific products recommended for you rather than experimenting with several strong ones together. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Drink with intention
Sipping an acidic drink slowly keeps teeth exposed for longer. Review your most frequent drinks with us, sugar-free ones included, and make water the usual choice between meals.
Brush softly and leave fluoride behind
Use a soft brush and the fluoride toothpaste advised for you. After brushing, spitting rather than rinsing may help fluoride stay on the teeth; we can confirm what suits you.
Keep a symptom diary
Write down when sensitivity, heartburn or dryness occurs and bring it to your review. If a health condition is the source, your doctor may need to be involved.
Home-care questions(905) 876-4488
Questions about protecting enamel yourself
These questions come up once people start changing their routine. Your own exam decides which advice applies.
Is an electric toothbrush safe for eroded teeth?
Usually, yes, if you use a soft head and let the brush do the work without pressing hard. Some models have pressure sensors that warn you when you push too firmly. Bring it along if you are unsure about your technique, and we can watch how you use it.
What is a high-fluoride toothpaste, and would I need one?
Some toothpastes contain more fluoride than standard ones and are recommended by a dentist for higher-risk teeth. Whether you need one depends on your wear, sensitivity and cavity risk. If one is suggested, use it exactly as directed and keep it away from young children.
Should I rinse my mouth after brushing?
Spitting out excess toothpaste without rinsing with water may leave more fluoride on the teeth for longer. It feels odd at first for some people. Your dentist can tell you whether that suits your routine and the products you use.
Is it better to drink acidic drinks quickly or slowly?
Finishing an acidic drink in one sitting, rather than sipping it over hours, generally reduces contact time. Avoid swishing or holding it in your mouth. Water afterward can help too.
How soon might sensitivity improve with home care?
It varies. Some people notice a difference within a few weeks of consistent use of a recommended toothpaste and habit changes; others need more help. If sensitivity is not improving, mention it at your review.
Can reviews from Erin be timed with my regular cleanings?
Often they can. Combining erosion reviews with routine hygiene visits cuts down on separate trips from Erin. If repair is needed, we can discuss scheduling it in a way that suits you.
Acid-wear assessments for Erin
Leave with a plan you can follow at home.
Bring your questions from Erin about sensitivity, thinning teeth or worn fillings to our Milton clinic. We will explain what is wearing your enamel, show you the routine that suits it, and say plainly which teeth, if any, need repair.
If pain becomes severe or swelling develops, please call. Online requests are not for urgent care.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
- Oakville
- Mississauga
- Georgetown
- Halton Hills
- Acton
- Campbellville
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Puslinch
- Rockwood
- Erin
- Caledon
- Etobicoke
- Old Milton
- Bronte Meadows
- Timberlea
- Dorset Park
- Dempsey
- Clarke
- Beaty
- Coates
- Harrison
- Scott
- Willmott
- Ford
- Bowes
- Cobden
- Walker
- Mountain View
- Milton Heights
- Hawthorne Village
- Valley View
- Fallingbrook
- Nassagaweya
- Trafalgar
- Esquesing
- Nelson
- Brookville
- Moffat
- Glen Williams
- Norval
- Limehouse
- Stewarttown
- Ashgrove
- Hornby
- Silver Creek
- Speyside
- Scotch Block
- North Oakville
- River Oaks
- Glen Abbey
- West Oak Trails
- Palermo
- Bronte Creek
- College Park
- Joshua Creek
- Uptown Core
- Preserve
- Iroquois Ridge
- Lisgar
- Meadowvale
- Meadowvale Village
- Churchill Meadows
- Erin Mills
- Central Erin Mills
- Streetsville
- East Credit
- Creditview
- Heartland
- Sheridan
- Mount Pleasant
- Credit Valley
- Huttonville
- Churchville
- Springbrook
- Northwest Brampton
- Bram West
- Fletcher's Meadow
- Fletcher's Creek South
- Alton Village
- Orchard
- Millcroft
- Headon Forest
- Tansley
- Brant Hills
- Tyandaga
- Kilbride
- Lowville
- Aberfoyle
- Morriston
- Arkell
- Hillsburgh
- Freelton
- Carlisle
- Waterdown
- Flamborough
- Mountsberg
