A cracked or chipped tooth can be painful, can contribute to oral decay, and can be expensive to have repaired. Prevention is always the best cure, so when you're enjoying a holiday meal or engaged in contact sports, you will need to look for ways to protect your teeth.
Harmless Cracks
Not all cracks are a concern. Small, hairline cracks can form as a result of temperature changes. These cracks are not painful and are only on the surface of the enamel. They usually remineralize.
Causes Of Serious Cracks
Cracked and chipped teeth most often result from biting or chewing on something that is too hard. This could be packaging that you were trying to rip open, a cap you were trying to unscrew, or hard food that you've bitten down on too hard. Also, if a particular tooth is already suffering from oral decay, it may be more susceptible to cracking or chipping.
Preventing Cracks
Even if you are chewing on something that you believe to be soft, be prepared to accidentally bite down on something hard and always chew cautiously. Try cutting chicken off the bone rather than eating it while it is still on the bone. For instance, when eating a chicken leg, it's easy to accidentally bite down on the bone. Do not chew on ice, which is one of the most damaging things for your teeth. If you would like to use ice cubes to cool down, suck on them instead.
Preventing Oral Decay
Since oral decay is one of the contributing factors to a cracked tooth, receiving regular checkups is one of the best ways to protect your teeth from a cracked tooth. This is especially true if you have teeth that have fillings. The fillings may fall out and can make the tooth structure more vulnerable. However, by having the filling restored by a dentist, your tooth will be much less likely to crack or chip.
If your tooth does crack or chip, you should have it repaired relatively soon. If you aren't able to have your tooth repaired right away, purchase a temporary filling that you can place over the crack. This may help alleviate pain and reduce how much bacteria may be able to enter the tooth and potentially infect the root pulp. Make sure to clean the tooth thoroughly before applying the filling. Then, see a dentist at the earliest opportunity to have your cracked or chipped tooth repaired. For more information, contact companies like Four Corners Dental Group Fairbanks.
Share18 October 2016
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.