Background: Tooth wear and acid erosion have not been previously investigated in Jordanian schoolchildren.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of tooth wear and associations for a range of dietary and behavioural risk factors.

Methods: A sample of 1,602 children aged between 15 and 16 years were randomly selected from 32 schools in Amman, Jordan. Tooth wear was measured using the modified Tooth Wear Index and dichotomised on the presence or absence of exposed dentine. Analysis of questionnaire items was performed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: Dentine was exposed in 51 % of children, and males (59 %) had significantly more tooth wear than females (42 %), OR = 1.9, 95 % CI 1.6, 2.4, p < 0.0001. Over 40 % of children had dentine exposed occlusally, mainly the lower first molars, and less than 1 % of the children had dentine exposed palatally. Daily consumption of oranges, ketchup, olives and sweetened coffee was associated with tooth wear through enamel to expose dentine. Carbonated drinks (fizzy) were on the borderline of significance at p = 0.055. The mean DMFT (5.52) was significantly greater in children without tooth wear compared to children with tooth wear (4.13) (p < 0.001). DMFT, gender, daily consumption of oranges and daily consumption of ketchup were significantly associated with tooth wear in the multiple regression model.

Conclusion: In this sample of children resident in Amman, Jordan, males had significantly more tooth wear than females. The acidic dietary items associated with tooth wear and, thus, dental erosion included oranges, olives and tomato ketchup.