What Causes Tooth Notching, and How Is It Treated?

When drinking cold beverages or eating ice cream, or when exposed to cold wind, or when brushing your teeth, if your teeth feel sensitive,

you may suspect cervical abrasion.

The cervical area is the part where the tooth and gum meet, and the condition in which this area gradually wears down and becomes notched is called cervical abrasion.

Cervical abrasion can occur for various reasons, so let’s look at the representative causes below.

Causes of Tooth Notching

Why does it happen?

🦷 Improper brushing habits

In particular, brushing by rubbing back and forth with too much force can gradually wear down the teeth.

🦷 Teeth grinding or clenching habits

Unhealthy oral habits can cause tooth wear.

🦷 Strong bite force and eating habits

Frequently chewing hard or chewy foods, or having a strong bite force, can also lead to wear.

🦷 Natural aging process

It is normal for teeth to wear down a little as you get older,

but in most cases, symptoms often worsen when multiple factors act together.

For these various reasons, teeth can wear down.

When the cervical area wears away, it not only causes tooth sensitivity, but food debris can also easily get trapped in the worn gap, which can lead to cervical caries.

In addition, as the root area of the tooth weakens, the risk of tooth fracture increases, so proper treatment and management are essential.

How is it treated?

If the notch is small or there are only sensitivity symptoms, a simple restorative treatment is performed by filling the worn area with resin.

If the nerve inside the tooth has been damaged, root canal treatment followed by crown restoration may be necessary.

So how can it be prevented?

To prevent cervical abrasion, above all, it is important to have proper brushing habits.

It is better to use a toothbrush with soft bristles, and when brushing, do not apply too much force. Rather than scrubbing hard from side to side, it is better to brush gently by sweeping downward from top to bottom.

Also, habits such as grinding your teeth or unconsciously clenching them tightly can place a burden not only on the teeth but also on the jaw joint, so they need to be corrected.

So today we looked at the causes of tooth notching, treatment, and prevention.

If your teeth become notched or you experience sensitivity, getting an early diagnosis and treatment at the dentist before it gets worse is the wisest choice.

Above all, remember that prevention is the best approach. :) 🧡

Seoul Ob Dental Hospital 4th and 5th Floors, 196 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul