What Should You Do If You Crack a Tooth?
If you think you might have cracked a tooth, it’s important to get to a dentist right away. Putting it off can lead to significant oral health problems, including infection and even tooth loss.
How do you know if you have, indeed, cracked a tooth? It can be difficult to tell at first. You can’t always see cracks, but pain when you chew, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling around the impacted tooth and discoloration are all telltale signs something isn’t right.
If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Danny Moosa at Parkway Family Dental as soon as possible. Dr. Moosa and his Polaris, Ohio, based team will provide you with the comprehensive care you need to ease your pain and ultimately save the fractured tooth. They’ll examine the tooth to determine the type of crack and the best course of treatment, which may be bonding to repair a small crack or placing a crown.
Even once you’ve realized you have a cracked tooth, you may not be sure exactly how it happened. Here, we take a look at the different causes and steps you can take to avoid cracks in the future.
Many people grind and clench their teeth while they’re sleeping—and have no idea they’re doing it. So, if you’re experiencing any common symptoms like sensitivity and pain as you eat your breakfast, the cause could be a cracked tooth that resulted from the pressure grinding put on your teeth as you slept.
If Dr. Moosa suspects grinding is what led to your cracked tooth, he’ll likely recommend you wear a custom-fit nightguard to protect your teeth. He and his Columbus, Ohio, based team will go over the benefits of wearing a nightguard and answer any questions you might have.
Teeth grinding, known as bruxism, is also a sign of sleep apnea—a condition that can lead to other dental health problems such as tooth wear (making it easier for them to fracture), dry mouth and even an increase in cavities and gum disease. The disorder also can cause fatigue, headaches and jaw pain, among many other symptoms. If you’re a grinder, Dr. Moosa may recommend a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea. Once diagnosed, you can learn about various treatment options and how to alleviate your symptoms.
Teeth wear down as we age, making them much more likely to crack. Regular visits to Dr. Moosa’s Polaris, Ohio, dental practice will help ensure your teeth stay as strong and healthy as possible.
Large fillings and root canals can make teeth weaker. Proper homecare, including flossing and brushing twice a day, and regular visits to Parkway Family Dental will help ensure dental restorations are cared for properly, keeping them strong and less likely to crack.
Chewing on hard foods can lead to a fracture, especially if your teeth are already weak and worn down from previous treatment or age. Avoid biting down on things like ice cubes, nuts and hard candy to prevent cracks.
Unfortunately, the medications you take can lead to oral health issues. Some, for example, cause dry mouth, which can cause cavities and tooth decay that weaken teeth and make them more likely to fracture. Dr. Moosa can help educate you about which medications could be causing problems that lead to cracks, and what you can do to prevent them.
Sometimes, you know exactly when and how you cracked a tooth. Trauma is a common cause of tooth fracture, but in many cases it’s preventable. If you play sports, for example, a mouthguard will protect your teeth if you fall or take a baseball to the face. Talk to Dr. Moosa and his Polaris, Ohio, based team about mouthguards and what might work best for you.
Of course, it’s also important to make an appointment right away if you’ve experienced a trauma and didn’t have a mouthguard for protection. Dr. Moosa can help get you out of pain and take steps to save the injured tooth.
Getting treatment for a cracked tooth isn’t something you can put off. The longer the tooth goes without proper treatment, the worse it will become and the more pain you’ll experience. A small crack, left untreated, can lead to an unrestorable tooth that must be extracted. In many cases an implant can replace the lost tooth, but, while a wonderful treatment option, implants are much more expensive and time consuming than the various treatments Dr. Moosa can use to address a newly cracked tooth.
If you ever suspect you’ve cracked a tooth, call Parkway Family Dental in Polaris, Ohio, as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. They’ll see you right away and provide the treatment you need to prevent further damage. But you don’t have to wait until there’s a problem to make an appointment. Call to schedule a routine checkup today. The team will provide you with the services you need to keep your teeth healthy and can talk with you about prevention if your teeth are at high risk for fracture.
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