People may tend to keep up with their overall health much more than their oral health. In fact, teeth seem to be neglected more often rather than other areas of health. Many individuals only visit with a dentist for an emergency appointment rather than taking preventative measures with regular appointments. However, the truth is that your teeth are important! They help you to eat foods and smile nice and pretty. It can even be painful when teeth are damaged or cracked making it difficult to chew properly.
What Causes a Tooth to Crack?
You may experience a cracked tooth if it hurts to chew on the affected tooth or on that side of the mouth in general.
A tooth can crack for various reasons, which are certainly not limited to:
- Grinding the teeth
- Too large of a filling
- Chewing or biting on very hard foods or candies
- Uneven chewing pressure or bite
- Stress on a tooth
- An injury or accident affecting a tooth
Why do I have pain?
Pain is associated with cracked teeth because the pulp, where the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels are located inside the tooth becomes irritated from chewing. The chewing motion causes movement of pieces leading to unpleasant discomfort or even sensitivity to extreme temperatures (hot or cold).
How is this treated?
Depending on the severity and size of the crack, different treatment options are possible. If the crack is simpler, bonding may be suggested. However, if the crack seems more severe, a root canal or extraction may need to take place.
Contact Us
If you are experiencing tooth pain that could be a result of a crack, this is not the equivalent to a cavity. However, the pain may feel similar if the tooth is irritated enough. At Mile High Smiles, we offer various services to treat cracked teeth. Call our Lakewood, Colorado office immediately at 303-232-1830 if you are experiencing any tooth pain that may be associated with a crack. We would like to have you feeling better as soon as possible!
