The good news is that these 2 potential causes of damage are preventable

Tooth decay
Is caused by the natural bacterium that is present in our mouths dissolving sugars in our foods and drinks. The natural bacterium is called plaque and is the white sticky substance you get on your teeth. These bacteria dissolve sugars then release acids as part of the digestive process. These acids can:

• Weaken the tooth enamel
• If the acid stays on the teeth for a long time. For example if the teeth are not cleaned properly or cleaned at all it can lead to tooth decay.

Tooth decay needs to be treated by a dentist otherwise it can cause infection and pain.

Dental erosion
Dental erosion is the gradual process of the damage from acids in your foods and drinks. Every time your child eats or drinks anything acidic, such as fruit juices and fizzy drinks the enamel on the teeth becomes softer for a short while, and loses some of its mineral content. The mouth usually repairs itself by using saliva. This helps to maintain the normal Ph balance of the mouth, but if your child drinks a lot of fizzy and soft drinks the enamel gets rubbed away. Rubbing away of the enamel or erosion can cause sensitivity and pain for your child.