A crack in your tooth enamel can be a serious problem. It may look like a small issue, but a crack can cause pain and even infection. If you have a crack in your tooth enamel, or if you suspect you have a cracked tooth, it’s important to see the dentist in Grand Island, NE. Your dentist can diagnose the problem and suggest solutions.

How Can You Tell If You Have a Crack In Your Tooth?

Depending on where it is and how big it is, you may be able to see the crack in your tooth enamel. If you can see a crack in your tooth, this is a clear sign that you should go to the dentist as soon as possible. Even if you can’t see a crack in your tooth, you may still feel it. Here are some of the symptoms you may notice:

• Intermittent toothache
• Swelling around the tooth
• Sensitivity to heat and cold
• Pain when biting down

What Will Happen If Your Tooth Becomes Cracked?

If you have a cracked tooth, you can experience a variety of problems. Some examples:

• Pain. A cracked tooth can be painful.
• Infection. Bacteria can enter your tooth through the crack in the enamel, leading to infection.
• Breakage. If your tooth is placed under stress, it coulud break along the crack, leading to a chip in your teeth.

What Can Cause a Cracked Tooth?

Biting down on hard food items like popcorn kernels can crack your tooth enamel, but there are many other things that can cause cracks in your teeth. Some people crack their teeth by using their teeth as scissors to open packaging. If you chew on ice, this can also cause a cracked tooth.

Age can cause your teeth to become weaker, so some people just crack their teeth more easily when they get older. If you fall or have an injury, you could potentially crack one or more of your teeth. Finally, if you grind your teeth at night, you could crack your teeth or even wear them down.

Some of these things are avoidable. If you have a habit of chewing on ice, for example, you can help protect your teeth by sucking instead of chewing on it.

What Should Do If You Have a Crack In Your Tooth?

Do you think you have a crack in your tooth enamel? Get help from a dentist you can trust. Contact Gentle Dental Care to make an appointment for a dental examination in Grand Island, NE.