Do you feel a sharp pain every time you bite down in a certain part of your mouth? And does it go away when you stop? You may have cracked a tooth in a place that you can’t see. Many of us would just go on and ignore it…not a good idea. The best advice is to get yourself to your dentist to make sure you don’t have a cracked tooth.
Chronic tooth pain can be caused by a number of things, but a cracked tooth is certainly a possibility. Sometimes they are hard to spot, because you may not have any other indications of a problem because can’t see it or feel it. You may not even be sure which tooth it is. Really, the only way to tell for sure is to see your dentist. S/he will take x-rays and examine your teeth to find out if and where you have a cracked tooth.
What causes teeth to crack? There are a number of reasons why a tooth might crack.
1. You can crack a tooth by chewing on something very hard, like candy or ice.
2. An accident where you are hit in the mouth can crack a tooth.
3. Teeth that are very worn or have large fillings or restorations can crack.
4. Sometimes endodontic treatment (root canals) can cause teeth to become brittle and crack.
5. Pressure on the teeth that is uneven caused by misaligned teeth can stress and eventually crack a tooth.
6. Extremes in temperature can cause a tooth to crack, such as eating very hot food and then drinking ice cold water.
A cracked tooth can be quite painful because biting down on it will put pressure on the crack. This can let in air that can reach the nerve and cause a lot of pain. It can also put pressure on the pulp inside the tooth, affecting the nerves and blood vessels inside. Eventually, a cracked tooth could become infected and abscessed.
Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the location and severity of the crack. Some cracks can be sealed with bonding, while others may be serious enough to require a root canal. In extreme cases, the tooth may need to be extracted.
