High prevalence of dental erosion has been reported in recent years. The prevention and treatment of dental erosion has therefore attracted lots of attention in dentistry. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a type of proteolytic enzyme containing Zn²⁺ and Ca²⁺, which can degrade organic matrix in advanced dental erosion. MMPs inhibitors were reported to have the potential to prevent the organic matrix of dentin from degradation, which might provide protective capacity against dental erosion. The present article reviews the mechanism and potential application of MMPs inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of dental erosion.