Cracked teeth, what are the causes and how to overcome them?

Have you ever felt a pain in your teeth when you were chewing? Instantly the pain goes away and you ignore it. If so, maybe you have cracked teeth. The pain from cracked teeth usually doesn't last long, it tends to come and go. Check out what causes and how to deal with cracked teeth below!

There are various causes of cracked teeth

Any part of the tooth can become cracked and not visible to the eye. In fact, it is not certain the exact cause of the tooth fracture problem.

However, several factors are believed to be able to cause cracked teeth, such as:

• Chew hard foods such as ice cubes, nuts, or candy.
• An accident that deals a hard blow to your mouth.
• The habit of grinding your teeth.
• Exposes excessive pressure but the teeth are not strong enough to hold.
• The occurrence of disease in the gums that causes bones to become porous. This can also cause cracked teeth because they can fracture the root.
• Exposure to the outer layer of the teeth (enamel) from foods that are too hot and then from drinks that are too cold.
• Losing a lot of part of the tooth structure due to the use of large dental fillings.

Although it may be invisible to the eye, cracked teeth can reach the pulp, the soft tissue in the tooth that contains the nerves, and the blood vessels of the tooth. Strong pressure on the teeth, such as when you are chewing, will open the cracks and irritate the pulp.

This is why your teeth are more sensitive to temperature extremes of food or drink. Then when you stop chewing, the pressure on the teeth disappears, but is replaced by aching sensation due to the closure of the cracks.

Types of cracked teeth

Teeth don't usually just crack.

Launching the American Association of Endodontists, this one dental problem also has types that you need to know. The following are the causes and types of tooth cracks, such as:

1. Craze lines

Referred to as craze lines because it is a super small crack in the tooth. However, what you need to pay attention to because this type of tooth fracture is painless and is claimed to not require any treatment.

These cracks usually occur in the enamel or the outer layer of the teeth which is classified as strong.

2. Fractured cusp

This type and cause of tooth fracture usually occurs in the area of ​​the tooth that has been filled. There is no need to worry because it claims to not affect the dental pulp

The pulp is the soft center of the tooth where the nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels are located. Then, this type of cracked tooth also doesn't cause pain.

3. Crack down to the gum line

In fact, teeth can crack with longitudinal vertical lines. It is feared that the type of tooth cracking problem can also extend and extend to the gum line.

This is what makes you need dental treatments such as extraction.

4. Split teeth

The cause of this type of cracked tooth is when the crack moves from the lower surface of the gum line. If the cracks are so large, what can happen is that the tooth cannot be saved.

5. Vertical root fracture

Unlike the previous types of cracks, the cracks in the teeth start below the gum line and move upward. You also have to be careful because the teeth can become infected and require extraction or extraction treatment.

6. Cracks due to sloping roots

Crack problems on the surface of the teeth may be more obvious. However, this type of crack occurs below the gum line even below the jawbone.

Often times, tooth extraction treatment is the only way to deal with this.

Cracked teeth are often invisible to the eye

These cracks that may only look like the lines of a strand of hair are difficult to see with the naked eye. If you feel uncomfortable chewing, you will certainly have difficulty determining which part of the tooth is causing the pain.

Therefore, it is better to have your teeth checked immediately if you experience pain every time you chew food on an ongoing basis. The cracks may be more obvious, when the doctor does scan three dimensions to a cracked tooth.

How do you deal with cracked teeth?

Treatment of a fractured tooth will generally vary depending on how big the crack is and where it occurs. However, you can also take preventive measures from cracking teeth, such as:

• Avoid chewing food that is too hard.
• Maintain dental hygiene so that the strength of the teeth is maintained. Floss your teeth twice a day with the use of dental floss.
• Visiting the dentist every 6 months.
• Use a protective gear if you have a condition that is grinding your teeth.
• When you feel a sudden crack in your teeth, rinse with warm water.
• Apply a cold compress if your cheeks become swollen.
• Take pain relievers such as ibuprofen.

In addition, to solve the problem from the annoying cracks of the teeth, you need to perform treatments that only a doctor can do, such as:

Bonding

The doctor will use a plastic resin to fill in the gaps of the tooth crack problem. This procedure will likely restore the proper appearance and function of the teeth.

Dental crown

Usually, the procedure to solve the cause of this tooth fracture uses a dental crown. Dental crowns are made of porcelain or special ceramics to cover problems with the teeth so they look like new teeth.

If cared for properly, crowns will last a lifetime.

Root canal treatment

If the tooth crack is extensive to the pulp and it breaks, the doctor will recommend root canal treatment.

This root canal treatment not only removes the damaged pulp, but also prevents infection from causing the tooth to crack.

Pulling teeth

Tooth extraction or extraction can also be used as a treatment that will be performed by the doctor when your tooth is cracked. This may be done when the tooth and nerve structures and roots are severely damaged.