A cracked tooth is when the tooth splits causing a crack to appear. There are a few types of dental cracks: hairline cracks, a fractured cusp, gumline cracks, a split tooth, vertical root fracture and decay induced breaks; all of which can cause great discomfort and pain.
What causes a cracked tooth?
- Trauma to the tooth.
- Large fillings.
- Bruxism/ teeth grinding.
- Eating foods that are hard, such as hard-boiled sweets.
How to prevent a cracked tooth?
To prevent a cracket tooth, you should maintain your oral hygiene - brushing with a fluoride toothpaste for no less than 2 minutes, twice per day, as well as flossing regularly. If you have an active lifestyle or struggle with grinding your teeth in your sleep, we recommend buying a mouthguard. We also suggest:
- Avoid eating hard foods, such as hard-boiled sweets, ice, and nuts.
- Booking regular check-ups with your dentist.
- Make note of any oral sensitivity experienced, as you can relay this information back to your dentist during your appointment.
How to treat a cracked tooth?
There are numerous types of cracked tooth, meaning there are many treatments that your dentist may pursue. You must make an appointment with your dentist if you are concerned or have any of the symptoms of a cracked tooth, as it cannot be fixed at home and will always require professional medical attention.
Should your cracked tooth break off, we suggest placing it in your saliva or a glass of milk until seeing your dentist. If you are seeking advice for somebody else, please make sure it is their own saliva they are placing their tooth into. Your dentist may be able to glue it back to its original place.
Alternatively, if you are unable to find or preserve the tooth, your dentist may use composite bonding to restore the tooth to its natural shape. Composite bonding is when a tooth-like-resin is adhered to the tooth in the affected area, repairing the visible damage.
More serious cracks may require treatments such as crowns, veneers, or root-canal treatment. These procedures are invasive. We suggest booking an appointment no matter how minor the symptoms are, it may stop the damage escalating to the point of invasive treatments.