Signs You Have a Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth is a serious dental emergency that needs immediate attention in order to prevent it from causing serious complications within your mouth. However, despite it being an emergency, many people are unaware that they have a cracked tooth until their dentist points it out to them. While tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it is still vulnerable to damage. Some signs of a cracked tooth are obvious while some are not; knowing the signs that you have a cracked tooth can help to ensure that you get the help you need should one occur.

A cracked tooth is a dental issue that can lead to other devastating consequences inside your mouth. A cracked tooth leaves the tooth vulnerable to infection and decay because the crack opens the tooth. If the tooth is open, bacteria and debris from your mouth can enter into the inner layers of the tooth and cause the tooth to die. An intense amount of pain is almost always associated with an infection within the inside of a tooth because it will affect the roots and nerves located at the tooth’s roots. This pain is often only felt when eating because the process of chewing food opens up the crack, and then once pressure from chewing is taken off the tooth, the pain will disappear. This coming-and-going of pain is often what makes people neglect bringing the issue to their dentist. They mistakenly believe that the issue will go away or that it is not “that bad.” However, this only leaves the tooth, neighboring teeth, and the entire mouth vulnerable to more extensive damage.

Signs you have a cracked tooth include:

• Extreme pain – immediately cracking a tooth
• Sharp pain that occurs when chewing; it occurs when you bite down, but it is relieved when you separate your teeth
• Tooth sensitivity that occurs from eating or drinking foods and beverages of varying temperatures
• Inconsistent pain that comes and goes
• A visible line in a tooth, with or without related pain
• Discoloration of a single tooth

If you have any signs of a cracked tooth or any other dental concerns, please contact Crabapple Dental today. Dr. Sarah Roberts and her entire team are here to provide the highest standard in dental care.