It can happen to everyone – you are enjoying your favorite food and you feel a crunch of a different kind. This could be a tooth getting chipped or broken. Bear in mind that this is not a common occurrence. Knowing the causes of a broken or cracked tooth will go a long way towards its prevention.
Causes of a broken or cracked tooth
The tooth enamel is the hard coating on the surface of the tooth. In most cases, the enamel protects the teeth during chewing and biting, but sometimes excess pressure can cause the enamel to crack or even break. This form of pressure can be due to sudden trauma from a fall or a blow to the face. In the presence of dental caries, the teeth become extremely vulnerable to cracks and breaks, and even minimal trauma that would normally not cause any harm to the tooth can cause it to crack.
Treating a cracked or broken tooth
In the event that a tooth is cracked or chipped, it is a good idea to see your dentist as soon as you can. Some measures can be done at home until you see a dentist.
- Pain killers – Sometimes, a large part of the tooth may be chipped off which can cause a degree of pain or discomfort. Simple over the counter pain killers like paracetamol can help.
- Chipped teeth can be rather sharp and when chewing and talking the tooth can rub against the inside of the cheek. This can cause a tremendous amount of irritation and even cause a cut or some bruising. Covering the tooth edge with a small piece of chewing gum might help until you see the dentist.
- In the case of large tooth chips that extend all the way to the root of the tooth, a root canal may need to be performed.
- Sometimes in cases where a large part of the tooth broke and simple dental procedures cannot be used to rebuild the tooth, dental veneers or crowns may be placed. These are strong enough to withstand normal pressure from chewing and are cosmetically designed to look like normal teeth.
See us at Venetian Dental and we will help
While tooth breakages cannot be completely prevented, there are steps that can be taken to lessen the possibility of a cracked or broken tooth.
- Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth.
- Avoid chewing hard objects like ice or pens.
- Wear a protective mask or mouthguard when participating in contacts sports
If you think you have a cracked or broken tooth, please contact us today for a free consultation before the problem gets worse. As your dentists, we have options to save your teeth and prevent tooth extraction.
In Florida, Venetian Dental treats patients from Manatee and Sarasota County: Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Palmetto, Longboat Key, Lakewood Ranch, Ellenton, Oneco, Parrish, Bayshore Gardens, Myakka City, Sarasota, North Port, Venice, Englewood, Nokomis, Osprey, Siesta Key, South Venice, and Casey Key.
