CHIPPED TEETH: CAUSES & TREATMENT
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25 June 2021

CHIPPED TEETH: CAUSES & TREATMENT

Do you face difficulty while biting and chewing your food? Is your tooth hurting your tongue or the interior surfaces of your mouth? When you move your tongue over the teeth and feel a rugged surface that hurt your tongue, it could be due to a chipped tooth or cracked tooth. Chipped teeth could be due to improper food habits or poor dental hygiene. Here is a detailed overview of the causes of chipped teeth and how to prevent chipping of teeth. 

WHAT IS A CHIPPED TOOTH? 

Teeth are protected by a tough mineralized outermost layer named enamel. Enamel is one of the toughest tissues in the human body containing at least 96% minerals making it highly durable and damage-resistant. Enamel protects the inner tissues of the teeth and prevents teeth sensitivity. However, if the enamel faces a huge blow due to an accident or when you fall, or it suffers excessive wear and tear, the enamel chips off, cracking or chipping the teeth. Chipping of the tooth causes a rugged surface that hurts the tongue and inhibits the comfort of biting or chewing. 

When the chip extends long enough to expose the inner tissues and nerves of the teeth, you suffer from teeth sensitivity while consuming hot or cold foods and drinks. Chipped teeth in itself might not be painful, but it inhibits the efficient functioning of the mouth and causes discomfort. 

CAUSES OF CHIPPED TEETH 

  1. Bite Habits 

Few people possess the habit of biting on hard substances like pencils, ice cubes or biting nails to cope with stress. Biting on these substances exerts an even pressure on the teeth, damaging the enamel. When the enamel gets damaged, the teeth get chipped. 

  1. Cavities 

When you consume sugary foods, bacteria in the mouth feed on these sugars and produce harmful acids in the mouth. These acids attack the enamel and erode it. Eroded enamel causes chipped teeth. 

  1. Bruxism 

Some people have the habit of grinding their teeth either consciously or unconsciously while in sleep. Grinding of teeth weakens the upper surfaces of the teeth and the enamel. As a result, the surface of the enamel gets rugged, causing chipped teeth. 

  1. Accident 

When you fall or meet with an accident and suffer a huge blow on your teeth, the enamel gets damaged and the teeth chips. Also, playing contact sports without a mouthguard can hurt the teeth and enamel. 

  1. Poor Oral Hygiene 

Skip brushing and flossing your teeth, and plaque will create an establishment in your teeth. Plaque, bacteria and cavities are potential enough to destroy your teeth enamel and lead to chipped teeth and other dental issues. 

 

PREVENTION OF CHIPPED TEETH 

By following a few simple steps, you can prevent your teeth from being chipped. 

Dental Hygiene 

Never compromise on your dental hygiene as hygiene serves as a lifeline against a maximum of infections and germs. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque and debris. Use a mouthwash to remove the harmful acids in the mouth. Eat healthy foods and tooth-friendly snacks. 

Give Up on Bad Habits 

Give up on your habits like chewing pencils, biting nails, biting ice cubes, etc. Sucking ice cubes is sought to be a good remedy for the dry mouth, but biting or trying to chew ice cubes can chip your teeth. If you’re under stress or wish to bite on something hard, consume raw vegetables and fruits. 

Wear a Mouthguard 

If you have the habit of grinding the teeth, wear a mouthguard that protects the enamel and the surface of your upper and lower teeth from being chipped. Also, wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports to avoid damage to the teeth. 

TREATMENT OF CHIPPED TEETH 

Chipped teeth get treated by dental practitioners using one of the following methods.   

  1. Polishing 

If the chipping is mild, it gets corrected at the initial stage by polishing the affected tooth. Polishing will reverse the ruggedness of the tooth, but you must cater the best care to your teeth to prevent further damages.  

  1. Tooth Reattachment 

If a piece of your tooth gets broken, keep it in a glass of milk to keep the calcium intact and then visit the dentist or our dental clinic, The Elite Dental Care in Tracy to reattach the broken piece of tooth. 

  1. Dental Bonding 

Dental bonding involves cementing a composite resin material or porcelain to the affected area, and UV light is used to dry the material. The bonding material is shaped to the form of the tooth so that the rugged surface gets smoothened. The bonding can last well for at least ten years. 

  1. Dental Onlays & Dental Crowns 

To correct a slightly chipped tooth, dentists opt for dental onlay that is applied to the surface of your teeth, especially the molars. However, if a large portion of the tooth gets cracked, extending the cavity to the root of the teeth, a root canal has to be done. A crown made of porcelain, metal or ceramic is capped on the tooth to protect it from further damage, and preserve the aesthetic value of the teeth.   

  1. Dental Veneers 

Veneers, also known as false tooth are tooth-colored prosthetic devices used to enhance the aesthetic value of the teeth. Dental veneers sit on the affected tooth such that the color of the veneers are matched with that of the natural teeth to make your smile looks all-natural and perfect. 

Chipping of teeth is prevented if proper care gets nourished to your teeth. Your chipped tooth can be corrected, and the natural tooth can be retained with the above mentioned dental procedures. You can visit our dental clinic, The Elite Dental Care, one of the leading dental clinics in California for chipped teeth treatment. We also regularly bring you dental health tips and oral health care on our blogs.