Cracked teeth are a common malady in the endodontic world. Dr. Allen of Phoenix Endodontic Group treats this problem frequently and notes some common causes, often food-related. Here’s what you should know about foods that commonly cause tooth breakage and what to do if you experience the issue.
One of the leading food-related culprits that cause cracked teeth is ice. The impact of the tooth striking the very hard surface of the ice as you chew places excessive stress on the tooth’s enamel. The tooth may crack instantly or over time may incur many microscopic fractures until the tooth eventually breaks apart. The result can be quite painful and require major work to fix.
In addition to ice, other frequent fracture-causing foods are hard candy and smaller nuts, says Dr. Allen. Holidays tend to generate lots of patients with cracked teeth since such treats are more easily accessible. Though candy in any form is not good for your teeth, if you choose to eat hard candy it should be sucked on rather than chewed to prevent dental fractures. Be cautious when eating hard nuts and don’t nibble them with your front teeth.
Cracked teeth can also result from random eating incidents. One patient cracked a tooth on a pebble in her salad, and in another unusual circumstance , A patient was chewing the marrow out of a bone and accidentally bit the bone, Dr. Allen describes. These types of occurrences may not be avoidable, unfortunately. Even if you do not notice any visible damage from accidentally biting something very hard, it’s best to have your tooth checked out after the incident.
Should you experience cracked teeth from eating or from any other incident, talk to your endodontist right away. Generally the milder the damage, the less extensive the work needed to repair it. If the damage is ignored the chances of the tooth being eventually lost will increase exponentially.
Dr. Allen and her colleagues at Phoenix Endodontic Group are experts at handling cracked teeth and more, giving you the best odds of keeping your natural teeth. Don’t hesitate to reach out right away for best results!