The enamel covering teeth is the hardest and most mineralized tissue in the body, but its strength is limited.
Falling, blowing to the face, or biting on something hard, especially if the tooth is already decayed, all can cause chips on a tooth.
If you have a chipped tooth, don’t panic. It can be fixed at the dentistry.
Why teeth break and crumble
Teeth tend to break or crumble if they are decayed or if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding while sleeping).
Here are some reasons why teeth can break and crumble.
Nutritional deficiencies
Various minerals and vitamins are essential for strong tooth enamel. Vitamin A deficiency can cause brittle teeth. Vitamin D deficiency leads to low minerals absorption (e.g., calcium and phosphorus), essential for strong enamel.
Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by eating disorders and unhealthy diets. Some medications also affect the supply of nutrients to the body.
Acidic products
Eating disorders can be accompanied by acid damage to the enamel because of regular vomiting or chewing lemon slices.
Other conditions that provoke enamel-weakening acid include:
- gastroesophageal acid reflux disease;
- severe morning sickness;
- lots of sugary drinks and foods (especially soda);
- dry mouth and dehydration.
Age-related changes
With age, the amount of fluid that reaches the tooth enamel decreases. Dry tooth enamel is weaker and more susceptible to destruction. Older teeth are also more exposed to acids, which ultimately leads to brittle and thinner enamel.
How to care for a chipped or broken tooth
If your tooth is broken or chipped, visit a dentist as soon as possible. Otherwise, the tooth may get even more damaged and infected, which may lead to its loss.
However, before you get to the dentist, you need to relieve the pain and protect the tooth and the inside of your mouth to avoid further injury.
To do this, you should follow the following recommendations:
- immediately rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it;
- place a cold compress on the cheek to reduce swelling;
- you can take over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, but make sure you don’t take more than the recommended dose;
- if you can find a piece of a broken tooth, wrap it in a damp gauze and bring it to the dentist;
- avoid rubbing the affected area and removing pieces of tissue from the injured area;
- avoid chewing on the side of the damaged tooth;
- try to get to the dentist within 30 minutes.
Dental injuries that require and don’t require treatment
Although teeth are the strongest structures in our body, they can still be damaged by bacteria or trauma.
The hard outer layer of teeth is called enamel. Calcium provides the enamel with white color. A softer layer of yellowish tissue under the enamel is called dentin. It makes up the bulk of the tooth. The inner layer of the tooth is known as the pulp. It is reddish pink in color and contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth.
A broken tooth can expose the dentin or pulp layer. If you get a broken tooth, see a dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you get treatment, the more likely the tooth can be saved.
According to a 2015 Trusted Source article published in the European Journal of Dentistry, canines in the lower jaw are the most frequent to break, probably because their pointed tubercles cut into the grooves of the canines in the upper part jaw.
However, any tooth can become damaged because of trauma.
Deep cracks can penetrate to the root or go from the center of the tooth to the pulp cavity, which contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue.
Cracks can be invisible, hiding inside the tooth or under the gum. The deeper and wider the damage, the more thorough and longer the treatment is required.
The extent of the damage can be diagnosed by examining the tooth with a microscope, performing a bite test and taking an X-ray.
Cracks that may not require treatment
Not every crack or chip is serious enough to require treatment. Small cracks occurring on the enamel are common.
However, in most cases, it is worth visiting a dentist because it is difficult to determine how deep the damage can be.
After all, there are no effective home remedies to prevent further damage to the teeth and oral cavity, and the sharp edges of a cracked tooth can cut into soft tissue, causing more pain, infection, and potentially more expensive treatment.
Cracks that need immediate treatment
Many types of dental injuries may require emergency treatment. For example, if you knock out a tooth, you should grab it if possible and visit a dentist immediately.
A situation is considered an emergency if the patient is bleeding heavily or in severe pain
A chipped tooth
If the damage is minor, the surface of the broken or jagged edge can be polished or smoothed. This is called cosmetic contouring.
If the defect is slightly larger and cannot be repaired in this way, a composite tooth restoration, the volume of which depends on the extent of the damage, can be needed.
This procedure can be performed in one visit to a dentist.
Root canal filling
A crack or chip that penetrates deeper than the surface requires more thorough treatment. Sometimes the crack extends to the pulp, which may require filling the root canal.
During the procedure, the inflamed or infected pulp is extracted, the inside of the tooth gets disinfected, filled and sealed with a rubber material called gutta-percha. After that, filling or a crown is placed.
Ceramic is usually used to make dental crowns.
Dental veneers
Veneers cover damage to the front teeth. A ceramic or composite shell is bonded to the tooth surface to repair and conceal the damage.
Surgery
Canines contain more than one root. If only one root is broken, the root can be amputated to save the rest of the tooth. This is called a hemisection.
Sometimes root canal treatment cannot save the tooth. The deeper the crack, the more likely tooth extraction will be recommended.
The dentist may also suggest extraction if the crack extends below the gum line.
Implants can help replace the extracted tooth and fill in gaps in the mouth.
Risks
If left untreated, a broken tooth can accumulate bacteria, which can lead to infections or abscesses.
A broken tooth can also cause nerve damage and may require root canal treatment and nerve extraction.
To prevent nerve damage, do not chew or speak too vigorously, and contact your dentist immediately to have the problem fixed.
A broken tooth is considered a dental emergency and requires immediate dental care.
Complications of a cracked tooth
The biggest complication that a cracked tooth can lead to is an infection that can spread to the bone and gums.
Some symptoms of a dental infection (also known as a dental abscess) include:
- fever;
- pain when chewing;
- swollen gums
- sensitivity to heat and cold;
- bad breath.
Prevention
You can’t treat a cracked tooth at home, but you can prevent it from happening.
Strong teeth are less likely to crack, so be sure to maintain proper hygiene:
- brush your teeth twice a day;
- visit the dentist every six months for preventive care;
- avoid chewing on hard foods;
- always wear a mouth guard if you play contact sports and use one while sleeping if you grind your teeth.
If you get a broken or injured tooth, seek emergency help from the specialists of the Yarema dental clinic.