5 Common Causes of a Cracked Tooth

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Your teeth are very strong, but they aren’t invincible. Certain things can cause damage to the tooth, including cracks. Cracked teeth are bad because that creates an entryway for bacteria into the interior of the tooth. To avoid cracked teeth, consider these common causes:

1. Chewing on Ice

Lots of people chew on ice after they’ve finished a drink. But this habit often causes cracked teeth. If you have this habit, toss your ice right away so you aren’t tempted.

2. Eating Hard Candy

There are many kinds of popular hard candy that, unfortunately, can lead to a cracked tooth. They include favorites like peanut brittle and pralines. Avoid this type of candy if you want to keep teeth healthy.

3. Experiencing Mouth Trauma

Blunt force trauma to the mouth can also cause a cracked tooth. These most often occur as sports injuries, car accidents or falls. You can wear a mouth guard while playing sports to avoid injury, but the other incidents cannot be predicted.

4. Teeth Grinding

If you grind your teeth either while awake or asleep, you may be causing one or more of your teeth to crack. This is because the chronic lateral force being applied to your teeth isn’t natural. If you are a teeth grinder, talk to your dentist about wearing a teeth guard that will help you to break the habit.

5. Age

As you age, your teeth may become slightly weaker. This makes them more susceptible to cracking and other injury. More teeth cracks occur in those over aged 50 than in younger people. There’s nothing you can do to prevent this from happening, but regular dental checkups will help to ensure that any cracks are detected right away.

Your Athens dentist can help if you have a cracked tooth. There are treatments available that can restore the look and strength of your cracked tooth. Contact us today for details.

 

Prevailing Myths About Tooth Extractions

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When a tooth has grown to the point that it can likely not be saved, it may have to be extracted. Decay, dental trauma, and severe crowding are all common reasons for tooth extraction. Here is a look at some of the unfortunate myths about getting a tooth extracted patients should know.

Myth: Most dentists prefer to extract a tooth instead of saving it.

Every good dentist is going to go to great lengths to try to save an ailing tooth before deciding that it should be extracted. Removing a tooth permanently affects your smile, and while solutions are available for restoration, natural teeth and natural root systems attached to the bone are always preferred. If the dentist is recommending a tooth is extracted, you can rest assured they have considered:

  • The overall condition of the tooth
  • The probability that the tooth could be saved
  • The way the tooth should be extracted for the greatest chance of restoration

Myth: Extractions are one of the most painful dental procedures.

Extractions can be painful, but you should not feel anything when the procedure is performed. The dentist will use a combination of techniques to make sure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. You may feel some pressure as the roots of the tooth are removed from the bone, but there should be no pain experienced. After the procedure, anesthetic given during the procedure will gradually wear off. At this point, you may feel a bit of discomfort, but it is usually nothing that over-the-counter pain medications can’t normally relieve.

Myth: Most people have problems after a tooth is extracted.

On the contrary, the majority of tooth extractions are performed without any problems. Most patients will experience minimal pain and discomfort and see the gum tissue start to heal up and close soon after the procedure. If an issue occurs, it is usually an issue that can be treated relatively easily. For instance, problems with prolonged bleeding can be tended to with temporary packing for the wound done by the dentist.

Talk to an Athens Dentist About Tooth Extraction

If you have a tooth that needs to be extracted, it is important that you don’t wait to seek treatment. Reach out to us at Athens Smiles in Athens, TX to schedule an appointment.