Did you know that you could have a cracked tooth without even knowing? While teeth are very strong, they can crack for a number of reasons. If this happens, your tooth could be at risk for problems. Here are three important things you should know about cracked teeth.

How teeth crack

There are many things that can lead to a crack in a tooth. Trauma to a tooth, for example, is one common cause of cracked teeth. You could also crack a tooth from biting down on something that is really hard, or you could crack a tooth from grinding your teeth too much while you sleep. If you have a tooth that has a very large filling in it, this particular tooth might be more prone to cracking. Teeth weaken when they have cavities removed and fillings put in place.

Symptoms of a cracked tooth

While there are times people have cracked teeth and never know it, there are also times when people experience symptoms that can indicate that a tooth is cracked. If you feel a really sharp pain when you use a certain tooth for chewing, it could indicate that the tooth is cracked. A cracked tooth can also cause extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. If you experience a lot of throbbing pain that tends to come and go with one tooth, this could also be a sign that you have a cracked tooth.

Cracked teeth often lead to pain because the crack exposes the nerves that are found in the tooth. When these nerves are exposed, you are likely to feel pain.

Why you should get a cracked tooth fixed

If you discover that you have a cracked tooth, you should not ignore it. If you leave a cracked tooth untreated, you could develop major problems with this tooth. Leaving the crack untreated could lead to the following problems:

• An infection in the roots of the tooth
• Loss of the tooth
• A cavity in the tooth

You should not ignore a cracked tooth as the crack will eventually lead to other problems.

Dentists can fix cracked teeth in many different ways, and they are great at finding cracks in teeth, even when the cracks are very small. One way they do this is by taking X-rays during your routine visits. If you would like to schedule an appointment to learn more about this, contact a dental clinic like Milner Dentistry.