gently using a soft bristled hand toothbrush. in-vitro research has shown that there is a higher potential for abrasion on erosive enamel & dentine with an electric toothbrush as compared to a manual toothbrush. furthermore, delay brushing of teeth until approximately an hour after an acidic meal to prevent the removal of softened tooth substance. use products that promote remineralisation such as fluoride-containing mouthrinses and toothpastes. fluoride-containing products promote repair of acid damaged tooth surfaces and block exposed dentine tubules, reducing dentine permeability and preventing hypersensitivity. when used before contact with acid, fluoride-containing products also help inhibit acid erosion. stannous fluoride (snf2)-containing toothpastes in particular have been shown to increase resistance to acid erosion compared to other fluoride-containing toothpastes. b: dental professionals to facilitate detection and diagnosis, dental professionals should be aware of the appearance of tooth erosion – short, cupped, saucer-shaped with a glassy, shiny surface and loss of surface architecture. several teeth are affected at the same time, with the most commonly affected area being the tongue surfaces of the upper front teeth. recording index. use the basic erosive wear examination (bewe), an objective four-level scoring system to determine the severity of erosion in each sextant. the cumulative score corresponds to its level of risk and acts as a guide for appropriate management. the distribution of bewe scores is said to be more accurate than that of tooth wear index (twi) scores. 0 = no erosive tooth wear 1 = initial loss of surface texture 2 = distinct defect, hard tissue loss < 50% of surface area 3 = hard tissue loss ≥ 50% of surface area minimal intervention & prevention of dental erosion. the first line treatment after detection of acid erosion is remineralisation and prevention. remineralisation is the reparative process of demineralised tooth substance. it is commonly promoted by applying fluoride-containing substances onto the surfaces of affected teeth, though is limited by bioavailable calcium. the following are some methods of remineralisation: professionally-applied fluoride varnish, home-applied fluoride gel and toothpaste with stannous fluoride (snf2) formulation. prevention of erosion is largely through discussions regarding avoidance/management of extrinsic and intrinsic sources of acid, and recommendation of suitable at-home preventive oral hygiene habits. correct tooth brushing technique (timing, bristle stiffness, brushing force & toothpaste) should be discussed. toothpastes containing stabilized stannous fluoride have higher anti-erosive properties when compared to conventional sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate formulations. where possible, a stabilized stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste should be recommended. restoration is the process of building back lost tooth structure to restore their function, integrity and morphology. the type of restorative treatment depends on the degree of damage that has been done: small area of erosion along the biting surfaces of tooth can be restored using detection of acid erosion is resin composite filling. this is a tooth-coloured filling material commonly used to restore decayed teeth. moderate degree of damage at upper from teeth can be restored using detection of acid erosion is ceramic or resin composite veneers. a veneer is a thin piece of tooth-coloured, custom-made shells that cover the front side of teeth. large extent of damage, involving two or more surfaces of tooth can be restored using ceramic crowns or overlays. crowns are tooth-shaped capsplaced over the damaged tooth to restore its shape; overlays are pre-built fillings that are used to rebuild the pointed parts of back teeth (known as cusps). however, long-term treatment success is only possible when the causes of acid erosion are eradicated. otherwise, the erosive process will continue to destroy tooth substance. to achieve best outcomes, combining active treatment with preventive measures and recall at regular periods is needed. c: industry avoid having environments where there is repeated exposure and inhalation of acidic particles in occupational areas when possible as several case reports have proven a link between this and the prevalence of dental erosion. alternatively, subsidise regular dental services for those with higher risk of developing the condition. for instance, professional wine tasters, competitive swimmers and industrial workers working in factories that involve batteries, galvanizing or ammunition. educate workers on potential occupational hazards and promote maintenance of good oral health. for instance, standardise behaviours such as wearing personal protective equipment for the eyes and face and gargling during or after working. alter ph or chelation properties of acidic soft drinks, particularly those with citric or phosphoric acid by reducing its composition. tooth enamel is composed of calcium-deficient carbonated hydroxyapatite. chelating agents like hydrogen or citrate ions combine with calcium, carbonate or phosphate ions in the region, thereby causing direct surface etching and tissue loss.