Why do teeth chip?
A chipped tooth can happen unexpectedly while eating, playing sports, or even just while sleeping. However, a chip doesn’t occur completely out of the blue: the tooth may have been weakened by a cavity, wear and tear, an old filling, or chronic teeth grinding. When pressure is applied to a weakened area, a small piece of the tooth may chip off, or the tooth may even crack all the way down to the root, leading to tooth loss.
A crack in the tongue is often painless—it may just feel sharper on the tongue or cause food to get trapped there more easily. Even so, it’s a good idea to have an asymptomatic crack examined in a timely manner. A sharp edge can cut the tongue or cheek, which may feel like a bigger problem than the crack itself, and the damage can worsen over time. Cracks also tend to trap food at the site of the damage, making it significantly harder to clean the tooth and potentially leading to a cavity very quickly.
What can cause a tooth to chip?
Biting into hard food or cutlery
Nuts, hard candies, ice cubes, unpopped kernels in popcorn, and even stale bread can cause a tooth to chip. The risk increases if the tooth’s structure is already weakened by large fillings or wear and tear. Hard objects—such as a fork getting stuck between your teeth, biting your nails, or using your teeth to open a bottle cap—can also cause a chip.
An old or large place can let you down
Drilling into a tooth and restoring it with traditional composite resins weakens the tooth’s strength, making it more susceptible to chipping—a problem that is particularly pronounced in extensively restored back teeth. Years of chewing stress wear down fillings and the tooth surrounding them, which can cause the filling, the tooth itself, or both to chip. If a filling feels loose, has rough edges, or catches on dental floss, it’s a good idea to have it checked promptly to avoid future and potentially more serious problems.
Tooth decay weakens the tooth from the inside
Tooth decay softens the tooth structure. A tooth may look completely normal from the outside and even be symptom-free, even though the dentin beneath the enamel may already be extensively damaged. In such cases, the tooth can chip from even very slight force; even biting into soft bread can cause a chip.
Teeth grinding and clenching
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, puts strain on the teeth and causes significant wear. Bruxism is often unconscious and comes as a complete surprise to many people. Signs of bruxism—which occurs mainly at night but also during the day—often include stiffness in the jaw muscles and headaches, particularly in the morning; however, if these symptoms persist for a long time, they may go unnoticed. Stress significantly worsens bruxism and the associated symptoms. Prolonged bruxism puts strain on the teeth, wears them down, and causes microcracks. This, in turn, increases the risk of a tooth chipping even in everyday situations, such as when eating soft foods.
Dental trauma, or accidents
Dental trauma—that is, accidents involving the teeth—is common among everyone from very young children to the elderly. Rough play among children, falls, or forceful contact during sports can damage both the teeth and the jawbone. The consequences can range from minor knocks and chips to extensive jawbone fractures. Trauma can damage the tooth’s pulp, leading to tooth necrosis, even if there are no outward signs of a problem. These injuries can manifest even years later, which is why, especially in children, careful documentation of dental trauma and follow-up examinations when necessary are important.
Tooth Erosion
Tooth erosion—the dissolution of enamel caused by acids—is a common problem. The acid attack that follows a meal leads to a drop in the mouth’s pH, which begins to dissolve the enamel. The tooth, along with the saliva that protects it, is usually able to repair this minor damage through enamel remineralization, but repeated and intense exposure to acid can cause permanent damage to the tooth—and quite rapidly. Enamel wear also makes you susceptible to a common and unpleasant problem—tooth sensitivity. Morning sickness during pregnancy, acid reflux, or even asthma medication can cause significant tooth erosion.
A cracked tooth or a small chip?
A small chip often refers to a piece breaking off from the corner or chewing surface of a tooth. A crack, on the other hand, can extend deeper into the tooth. If a tooth is cracked, symptoms may include pain or a sharp twinge when biting down, especially when the bite is released. You can’t always see a crack yourself in the mirror, so it’s a good idea to have a symptomatic tooth examined at the dentist’s office.
A vertical crack that extends deep into the root can be difficult to repair and may worsen due to subsequent stress. Therefore, it is better to seek treatment sooner rather than later.
What should you do if a tooth chips?
- Keep the area as clean as possible by sweeping and mopping
- If the chip is catching a lot of food or feels sharp on your tongue, you can get temporary filling materials from a pharmacy to protect it. As a quick first-aid measure, simply placing a piece of chewing gum over the chip may be enough.
- Avoid chewing with a damaged tooth and opt for soft foods
- Make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible
Even extensive tooth damage often causes no symptoms whatsoever, which can result in people seeking treatment too late.
How can I prevent a tooth from chipping?
Tooth chipping can't always be prevented, but the risk can be significantly reduced:
- Get regular dental checkups so that cavities, worn teeth, and old fillings can be detected early.
- Have chipped teeth and cavities treated promptly, before the damage spreads.
- Wear a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth at night.
- Wear mouthguards when playing contact sports and participating in other activities where injuries are likely to occur.
- Do not use your teeth as a tool to open packages or cut objects.
- Avoid biting on ice cubes, hard candies, and other very hard objects.
- Limit your constant sipping of acidic beverages and treat any heartburn you may have.
How is a chipped tooth treated?
Treatment depends on the extent of the damage. A small chip can often be smoothed out or repaired with a composite filling. A larger chip may require a ceramic filling, a crown, or root canal treatment. If the tooth is deeply cracked, it may need to be extracted and later replaced with a dental implant.
The dentist will assess the situation by examining the tooth and, if necessary, taking an X-ray. The sooner a chipped tooth is treated, the better the chances of saving and preserving your natural tooth.
If your tooth is chipped or you suspect a crack, you can schedule an appointment through our online calendar an emergency appointment or a 30-minute appointment.
