Dental Enamel Erosion Causes and Factors

Dietary Causes

• Sugar-containing acidic drinks contribute to both acid erosion and bacterial acid production from sugar fermentation, according to the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 1, 2

Bacterial Acid Production and Dental Caries

• Dental caries results from bacterial fermentation of sugars in dental plaque, producing acid that demineralizes enamel, as reported by the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society and MMWR Recommendations and Reports 2, 3

Protective Factors

• Fluoride presence in saliva and plaque can enhance remineralization of early demineralized enamel, though this primarily prevents caries rather than erosion, as stated by MMWR Recommendations and Reports 3