It is defined as the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial origin.

[6] Numerous clinical and laboratory reports link erosion to excessive consumption of such drinks.

[11] Acidic food and drink lowers the pH level of the mouth resulting in demineralisation of the teeth.

A variety of drinks contribute to dental erosion due to their low pH level.

[12] Certain drugs can cause hyposalivation (low quantity or quality of saliva) which is considered a risk factor for acid erosion.

[11] Intrinsic dental erosion, also known as perimolysis, is the process whereby gastric acid from the stomach comes into contact with the teeth.

There is evidence linking eating disorders with a range of oral health problems including dental erosion, caries and xerostomia.

Reduced salivary flow rate, a common symptom of bulimia, predisposes an individual to dental erosion due to increased vulnerability to the effects of acidic food and drinks.

Self-induced vomiting increases the risk of dental erosion by a factor of 5.5 compared to healthy controls.

[14] This is not exclusive to adults, as GERD and other gastrointestinal disorders may cause dental erosions in children.

[17] On top of clinical examination, the dentist may take intra-oral photographs to monitor the extent and progress of erosion.

To monitor the change in shape over time, dentists can create and retain accurate, serial study casts.

[25] On the basis of the optical changes induced in eroded tissue by the lesions, in 2015 Koshoji et al. also demonstrated in a novel method that by using laser speckle images (LSI) it is possible to acquire information on the microstructure of the enamel and detect minimal changes, such as early non-carious lesions.