Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth may seem like an obvious problem to spot. While sometimes it can be, other times you may not even know your tooth is cracked. This can be a major problem, as a cracked tooth will worsen over time if it isn’t treated.
Below are the symptoms of a cracked tooth, some of the root causes, and treatment options that may be available.
Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
There are a few main symptoms of a cracked tooth to look for. These include:
- A visible fracture in the tooth
- Ongoing pain in the tooth
- Tooth sensitivity
- Swelling
- Pain when biting and chewing
Remember: a cracked tooth isn’t always visible. It may be a back tooth or a portion of the tooth that isn’t easy to see on your own. If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, make sure you schedule an appointment for your dentist to perform an examination. They will be able to determine whether or not your tooth is cracked and put together a treatment plan.
What Causes a Cracked Tooth?
There are a variety of different potential causes of a cracked tooth. These include:
- Trauma and injury
- Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
- Biting into hard foods
- Chewing hard objects
- Age
Can a Cracked Tooth be Treated?
Often, a cracked tooth can be treated. Some of the treatment options may include:
- Dental bonding: Dental bonding involves the use of tooth-colored resin to repair the cosmetic appearance of a tooth with a minor crack.
- Dental veneer: A dental veneer involves the replacement of a larger portion of a tooth, which may be required for a moderate crack.
- Dental crown: For a more severe crack, a dentist may need to replace the entire crown of a patient’s tooth with a prosthetic crown.
If a crack is too severe and/or leads to an infection, the tooth may no longer be viable. If this is the case, your dentist may opt for extraction. To avoid this, schedule an appointment as soon as possible to prevent a crack from getting worse or leading to an infection.
How to Prevent a Cracked Tooth
There are a few things you can do to help prevent a cracked tooth. These include:
- Visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup.
- Brushing twice a day, every day.
- Flossing and rinsing daily.
- Wearing a night guard when sleeping and a mouth guard for sports.
- Stopping the use of tobacco products.
- Quitting the chewing of hard objects like ice, pen caps, and hard candies.
While you can take action to help prevent a cracked tooth, accidents still happen, and a crack may occur. If that’s the case, schedule an appointment with your dentist for as soon as possible.
Reach Out Today
If you notice a crack in your tooth or you are experiencing any other symptoms of a cracked tooth, reach out today. We’ll schedule an appointment for an expert dentist to take a look at your tooth and determine the root cause of your discomfort. If the issue is a cracked tooth, your dentist will discuss which treatment option may be best to meet your needs.