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A KEY QUESTION
Address the cause of tooth wear before cosmetic repair. Lost enamel does not grow back.
Erosion, decay or other wear?
Erosion is acid-related wear without bacteria being the direct cause. Decay involves bacteria; grinding can cause mechanical wear. Several processes may occur together. Sensitivity or a flatter-looking tooth cannot establish the cause from a photograph or mirror.
Record an ordinary day
Note meals, snacks and drinks, including anything sipped while working or exercising. Timing matters: drinking with lunch differs from sipping all afternoon. Bring labels for frequent drinks or supplements. An honest record helps the dentist suggest realistic changes.
Reduce repeated acid exposure
Discuss limiting acidic drinks between meals, avoiding swishing and drinking water afterwards. Fruit juice and sugar-free soft drinks can be acidic. Nutritious acidic foods may fit within meals; do not remove whole food groups or change a medically advised diet yourself.
Mention reflux or vomiting
Stomach acid can also reach the teeth. Tell your dentist about reflux or recurrent vomiting and seek medical advice for persistent symptoms. Dental and medical care may need coordination. Do not stop prescribed medicines or try to manage an underlying illness through toothpaste alone.
Brushing after acid exposure
ADA advice is to rinse with water rather than brush immediately after acidic drinks. Keep using fluoride toothpaste and get timing advice that suits your meals or symptoms. Products described as protecting enamel cannot restore tooth shape that has already been lost.
Before repairing worn teeth
Your dentist may recommend prevention, monitoring, sensitivity care or restoration. Find out how ongoing wear will be measured and which decisions need to wait. Crowns or veneers do not remove the cause, including when treatment is planned abroad.
Read the related guidance
Keep the wider treatment plan in view while comparing these options.
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About this information
Published by Best Smile Turkey, a health-tourism intermediary. Your treating dentist is responsible for assessment, treatment and care.
Use this information to prepare questions for your dentist. An examination is needed to advise on treatment. Photographs, models and previews cannot establish suitability or predict results.
Source checking is not a clinical review. How we use sources and images, or how to report a correction.
Sources and further reading
- American Dental Association: dental erosion Acid-related tooth wear, dietary and gastric sources, assessment and preventive measures.
- American Dental Association: dietary acids and your teeth Why sugar-free drinks can still be acidic and ways to reduce repeated acid exposure.
- NHS: dental treatments explained An overview of crowns, bridges, veneers, implants and other options.
- General Dental Council: going abroad for dental treatment Questions to ask about the treating provider, follow-up arrangements and concerns.
These resources offer general guidance; their publishers do not endorse Best Smile Turkey or the treating provider. Manufacturer links identify products or records, not independently compared outcomes. NHS funding information concerns UK care, not treatment costs in Turkey.
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