Tore end off while eating away (7)

I believe the answer is:

erodent

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'eating away' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'tore end off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tore'+'end'='toreend'
'toreend' is an anagram of 'ERODENT'.

'while' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for erodent that I've seen before include "wearing away" , "Caustic" , "Corrosive" , "eating away" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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