How to Protect a Cracked Tooth so It Doesn't Get Worse

Whether there’s a visible chip or a barely-there line, if you think your tooth might have a crack, it needs to be protected from further harm until you can see your dentist. Small cracks may seem like nothing major, but if you don’t get them fixed quickly, the damage can become painful, and a simple fix can turn into an expensive procedure. 

So, was it a hard piece of food, or is there a hairline fissure hiding in your tooth? Fortunately, when it comes to your teeth, there are some obvious clues that help you solve this dilemma.

Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth

Your teeth are covered in a layer of enamel stronger than bone. This protective surface isn’t just so you can eat steak and caramel apples. It’s designed to keep the soft, inner layers of the tooth — the dentin and nerve-filled pulp — safe from hot and cold temperatures and bacteria. 

When a crack happens, those layers are exposed, and the nerves are stimulated. The result usually looks something like this:

• You’ll have a sharp pain when biting or chewing.
• You’ll be going about your day when you notice a dull or sharp pain that comes and goes.
• The nerves are irritated when you eat something hot or cold (temperature-sensitive) or brush your teeth.
• Obvious physical changes, such as a crack or discoloration, may be visible. The damage is traumatic to the tooth and can actually cause gray, brown, or black “bruising”!
• Gum inflammation and tenderness can occur when bacteria enter the tooth and reach the pulp and root.

Pus, a dental abscess, and swelling can appear after a few days. These are signs of infection and should be addressed with your dentist or doctor as soon as possible, especially if they’re accompanied by fever or difficulty swallowing. This is considered a dental emergency, as is a crack to a tooth from a traumatic event, uncontrollable bleeding, or a knocked-out tooth.

Severity of Cracks

Here’s the thing about cracks in a tooth. Sometimes, deep chips that look scary are actually fixable, while hairline cracks can be enough to damage the tooth at its root and make it unsalvageable. The severity of the crack matters, so let’s look at the different types of cracks to help you pinpoint what’s going on in your mouth.

Minor Craze Lines

Craze lines are commonly seen in smiles as we get older. These lines are superficial and mostly harmless, showing up as translucent, gray, yellow, or brown vertical lines. If you’re concerned about these lines damaging your teeth, you’re probably safe! 

The article “Can Teeth Grinding Cause Craze Lines on Teeth?” explains this further: craze lines are usually more noticeable to you than to anyone else. However, habits like drinking and eating certain dark beverages and foods can make them stand out more, as can using tobacco. 

For the most part, you can safely ignore your craze lines unless they start to become sensitive or if you have bruxism. Teeth grinding puts extra force on these cracks. The extra pressure may decrease the tooth’s structural stability and cause a mild line to fracture more severely.

Chips in the Tooth

A chip in your tooth is a more serious type of crack. The loss of enamel means a portion of the tooth’s structure is missing. In smaller cracks, fixing the chip is done by simply bonding or smoothing down the sharp edge. Larger chips that expose the dentin or pulp leave you at risk of infection, though. These types of cracks will likely require a crown or root canal to save the tooth.

Full Fractures

Not all full fractures are visible at first. This type of crack means that a vertical line has reached the gumline, splitting the tooth into segments. The nerve and supporting bone are affected, and if the problem isn’t addressed quickly, nerve death and bone loss can occur. This may require a tooth extraction to prevent further damage. However, a full fracture doesn’t have to reach this level of severity if it’s caught early enough.

How Can You Protect Your Tooth After It’s Cracked?

Overall, even minor cracks can turn into severe problems. When in doubt, let the professionals decide! Until your appointment, though, there are a few steps you can take at home to prevent the crack from worsening.

Cover the Crack

If the crack is sharp or rough and catches on the soft tissue in your mouth, cover it with dental sealant (or, in worst-case scenarios, sugar-free gum).

Minimize Pain and Swelling

Got pain? Manage discomfort and swelling with over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen, and ice packs. Cold compresses numb the area and decrease blood flow, which limits the swelling from pushing on the nerve and causing pain.

Keep the Crack Clean

The more bacteria that get into the crack, the worse the problem will be when you finally make it to the dentist. To keep the chewing surfaces clean and prevent infection, use warm saltwater rinses after eating and drinking, and try chewing on the opposite side.

Some foods and drinks are attractive to bacteria. Avoid sugary foods and beverages that these microorganisms thrive on, and stay away from hot and cold items that trigger nerve sensitivity. 

What Dental Procedures Fix Cracked Teeth?

While you’re awaiting the dentist, it’s common for a little anxiety to creep in. What will happen when you get there? Can they fix the tooth, or will you lose it forever? The good news is that dental technology has advanced significantly over the past few decades, and there are plenty of options for treating cracked teeth.

Dentistry services for cracks depend on whether the chip is minor, severe, or somewhere in between. Your overall oral health also plays a significant role, as advanced gum disease and other dental issues can limit the potential treatment options. 

During your visit, your dentist will likely take X-rays to see how far the crack extends. From there, they might recommend one of the following dental health procedures:

• Minor chips and cracks: Superficial cracks and small chips can be repaired with tooth-colored resin or a filling, then smoothed and bonded. In some cases, veneers might be an option to ensure the tooth’s appearance blends naturally with the surrounding teeth.
• Moderate chips and cracks: When the crack extends under the enamel, the entire tooth needs to be covered and protected. Your dentist may first place a temporary dental crown, then fit a permanent crown over the damaged natural tooth at a follow-up visit when it’s ready.
• Severe chips and cracks: In some cases, the crack is extensive enough to damage the pulp. If that’s your situation, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon for a root canal to try to save the affected tooth. If the damage is too extreme, an extraction could be the only option, but a dental implant can fill the gap.

If you’re googling all the worst-case scenarios about broken teeth and worrying about your upcoming appointment, pause and take a breath. 

The most helpful thing you can do right now is keep the area clean and free of irritants, and focus on reducing swelling and pain. These small actions prevent further damage to the chipped tooth and give you the best potential outcome when you see your dentist.

What Causes Cracked Teeth (and How Can You Prevent Them)?

Aside from eating something hard or chewing on objects not meant to be chewed, there are other common causes of cracked teeth. For starters, just say no to hard foods and chewing on ice. Watch out for stray popcorn kernels, and break that pen-cap-chewing habit. 

There are other less-obvious causes of cracked teeth, though. Consider these culprits and how you can take steps to prevent a chip or crack in the future.

Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching

Bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching) is a major cause of cracked teeth. The force of your jaw muscles clenching and grinding for hours while you sleep puts pressure on the teeth and gums. If you’re a bruxer, a custom-made night guard is the best first step to preventing cracks. These oral appliances come in multiple thicknesses to adjust for comfort and the severity of grinding, and are affordable and easy to order from JS Dental Lab.

Old Fillings

Your childhood fillings did their job way back when you needed them. But as fillings age, they can weaken or separate from the surrounding tooth structure, which causes stress points and cracks. Regular check-ups give your dentist the chance to watch old fillings and suggest when it might be time to replace them with new restorations to support and reinforce the tooth’s structure and integrity.

Trauma

Impact to the face from accidents or sports injuries can cause severe tooth damage. Wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports, and seek treatment immediately after an accident to prevent or minimize long-term complications from tooth cracks.

Sudden Temperature Changes

Did you know that if you have a very cold drink followed by a hot beverage (iced tea quickly followed by coffee, for instance), the temperature change can be extreme enough to crack a tooth? While this is rare, it can happen. 

Think about this possible complication the next time you bite into something really hot, then try to soothe the flames in your mouth with an ice-cold drink. Take a few seconds to let your teeth’s temperature lower naturally, then help it along with a cool beverage. Skip cold foods followed by hot beverages, too.

Age (Wear and Tear)

Natural wear and tear with age brings craze lines, and as the enamel thins, it weakens, causing teeth to crack. This is where preventive care is the only thing that will save the day. Good oral hygiene, including brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing, and regular dental check-ups, is essential for preventing chips and enamel damage.

Conclusion

Cracked teeth can be misleading, as they don’t always cause tooth pain right away. If you think your tooth may be chipped or there’s a line that doesn’t look normal, contact your dentist immediately.

But if those lines and cracks are stemming from teeth grinding, your next stop should be JS Dental Lab to see how our custom-made, professional night guards can protect your oral health and become part of your dental care routine.