You used your teeth to open a water bottle cap. You got tackled while playing football. You ground your teeth chronically while sleeping. All of these actions can result in chipped or fractured teeth. Even if a crack is small, it can cause pain, sensitivity, decay, or even infection. Some of the ways your tooth can fracture include:
- Craze Lines: These cracks only cover the surface of tooth enamel. They are very common and usually don’t require treatment.
- Cracked Cusp: The cusp is the pointed part of the tooth that grips and tears food. Its fracture can eventually cause damage to the rest of the tooth.
- Cracked Tooth: This crack runs from the top of the tooth crown down towards the root, sometimes extending below the gum line.
- Split Tooth: Like its name suggests, a tooth can split into parts if a crack is left untreated.
If you chip or crack your teeth then you should wash your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to your face to reduce swelling. See your dentist as soon as possible for treatment in order to prevent the development of dental health problems. They will apply dental bonding, a veneer, or a crown to remedy a broken or chipped tooth.