Health Tip: Do You Have a Cracked Tooth?

Sometimes, it's difficult to tell

(HealthDay News) -- You bite down and feel a sharp pain. It quickly disappears, or you just ignore it.

Later on, however, you begin to avoid certain foods or chew only on one side of your mouth. If this sounds familiar, you may have a cracked tooth.

A tooth may crack because of a variety of factors: chewing on hard objects, from ice to hard candy; an accident or blow to the mouth; grinding or clenching your teeth; uneven chewing pressure; stress on a tooth; loss of the tooth structure through wear, large fillings or other restorations; exposure of tooth enamel to temperature extremes, such as eating hot food and then drinking iced water; and brittleness of teeth that have gone through root canal treatment.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), depending on the size or location of the crack, treatment may vary from bonding to root canal. A severely cracked tooth may have to be extracted.

To prevent cracked teeth, the ADA urges regular dental checkups. Going to the dentist regularly allows him or her to diagnose and treat problems in their early stages.

If you do experience pain, avoid chewing on that side of the mouth, and call your dentist.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com