Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you. If you have cracked or broken teeth, it can cause you to hide your smile behind your hand, or you may just choose not to smile at all.
Having broken or cracked teeth can lower your self-confidence and be a serious concern.
Your teeth can be damaged due to age, tooth grinding, mouth trauma, or other reasons. Depending on the tooth’s location, you may not even notice your tooth is broken until it becomes painful.
Broken teeth are a cause for concern and have functional and cosmetic implications. Brittle and fragile teeth are weaker than they used to be, meaning they can break easier by something as simple as biting into something crunchy. If you’re curious about why your teeth are breaking and some treatment options, continue reading.
Why Do Teeth Break?
Your teeth are extremely strong; in fact, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. However, this does not mean that your teeth are indestructible. Over time your teeth’ enamel may become brittle and weaken, making them easier to chip or break.
There are several reasons teeth crack or break, including genetic factors, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis.
Genetic Factors
Your genetics factor into how strong your teeth are. Some people are predisposed to have softer enamel than others meaning their teeth are easier to break than others are. Genetics can also affect dentin, the layer just beneath the enamel, and could cause your teeth to be more brittle than normal.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is caused by the growth of bacteria that are caused by poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis, the early form of gum disease, can cause irreversible bone or tissue damage. If Gingivitis is not treated early enough, then it can lead to periodontitis.
This is when the tissue around the teeth shrinks, and the gums loosen, allowing debris to collect there, which then leads to infection; in advanced stages, periodontitis results in fragile teeth that are prone to breaking and falling out.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes people to lose bone density which can lead to tooth loss. This is because it can cause your jawbone to weaken and lose some of its thickness. When the jawbone weakens, your teeth also weaken.
Different Ways Teeth Break
When a tooth breaks, it may not be completely broken; there are a few different types of breaks, including a cracked tooth, split tooth, fractured cusp, or craze lines.
● A cracked tooth is when the break goes from the tooth’s surface to the gum line.
● A split tooth is when the tooth is spleen in two. This typically happens when a cracked tooth is left untreated.
● A fractured cusp is when the cusp or the elevated part of your tooth that helps you chew becomes damaged.
● Craze lines are superficial lines on the tooth’s surface. These don’t require immediate treatment and aren’t painful. This is a cosmetic issue that your dentist can fix with veneers.
How Broken Teeth Are Fixed
The first thing you need to do if you notice a broken tooth is to call your dentist to avoid further damage and infection. There are a few different options to repair a broken or cracked tooth, including:
● Bonding which is when a strong tooth-colored plastic or ceramic is cemented to your tooth and shaped to match its natural form.
● Veneers are thin coverings custom-made to attach to the surface of your teeth.
● A dental crown is an excellent solution when a large part of the tooth is missing or has a lot of decay. A crown sits on top of the damaged top and protects it.
How To Prevent Broken Teeth
There are times when broken teeth just happen, and you can do nothing to prevent them. However, you can take some simple steps to lower your risk of having one break.
● Avoid chewing hard candy, olive pits, ice, pens, and popcorn kernels.
● Don’t grind your teeth, and if you do at night, then purchase a nighttime mouthguard.
● Make sure always to wear a mouthguard when playing sports.
Overall
You can do many things to keep your teeth strong and healthy, including brushing and flossing regularly and practicing good oral hygiene. Call your dentist immediately if you notice that you have mouth pain or chipped or cracked teeth.
If you are experiencing mouth or tooth pain and have concerns about your dental health our dental clinic in Walled Lake can help. Offering the latest in dental treatments and procedures, Dr. Hechtman will bring your smile back to life by addressing the root of the dental issue first.
Our dental services include everything from general dentistry to restorative and cosmetic dentistry including veneers and dental implants. After an oral evaluation, our dental staff will help you choose the best procedure for your dental needs. Call and schedule a Free consultation today!