Enamel is the hard, protective coating on the tooth. It serves as a protector for the dentine or more sensitive part of the tooth. Acid can cause the enamel to erode or wear away. If this happens the patient will experience pain and sensitivity.
Consuming anything acidic will cause the enamel to temporarily become soft and lose some of its mineral content. The natural action of your saliva will help to reduce this acidity and bring your mouth back into balance. If there is too much acid or for too prolonged time, the mouth will be unable to complete the repairs. Then tiny particles of enamel will disappear. Over time this will cause the loss of tooth surface.