A cracked tooth can be a big dental problem. If the crack is serious, it can expose the nerves in your tooth and cause a lot of pain. Without treatment, serious cracks can lead to health issues. While some cracks are very minor and won’t require much treatment, you should still visit River Vista Family Dental if you suspect a crack. How do you identify cracked teeth?
Pain When Eating
Chewing and eating puts pressure on your teeth, and if you have a crack, that tooth isn’t as strong as it usually is. The sensitive tissues inside the tooth aren’t as protected. The pressure of chewing can cause pain, so if you experience pain while eating and biting down, a crack could be the reason.
Tooth Sensitivity
The hard enamel on the outside of a tooth protects the nerves inside, and if that outside gets cracked, the whole tooth becomes more sensitive. You might experience sensitivity when the tooth is exposed to hot or cold temperatures, and even sweetness.
Swollen or Irritated Gums
A cracked tooth can cause problems with the surrounding gum tissue. If you notice a certain area of your gums is swelling or uncomfortable, it could be because a tooth nearby is cracked.
Pain That Comes & Goes
Cracked teeth don’t usually cause constant pain. As we mentioned before, you’ll tend to feel pain or discomfort when chewing or exposed to hot or cold temperatures. If you’re experiencing pain that fades in and out, you might have a cracked tooth, and should come in to see Dr. Marshall and the team at River Vista Family Dental. We can identify the crack and come up with the best plan of action for treating it.
Visit River Vista Family Dental
A cracked tooth can’t heal itself, and leaving your tooth in a weakened state can lead to bigger problems down the road. If you’re worried you might have cracked a tooth (or teeth) and are experiencing any of the symptoms we’ve talked about, come visit us!