Chipped teeth are very common. Chipped teeth can arise from damage, decay, genetics, or plain old bad luck. You should not feel bad or down on yourself because it happened, but you should take responsibility and correct any behaviors that affected it though. People have been known to crack or chip teeth on foods as soft as gum, so do not be surprised.
What are the top risk factors for chipping your teeth?
It is not always your fault, but chipped teeth are often attributed to poor dental health, or lifestyle decisions.
1. Smoking- Smoking dries out your gums, teeth, and entire mouth. It also introduces carcinogens into your system, and damages any tissues it comes into contact with. Smoking is bad news, seek quitting options promptly.
2. Poor Hygiene- Dental hygiene is of paramount importance right now. With the variety of dietary supplements, herbal medications, pharmaceuticals, and sugary foods; it has never been more important to pay attention to the health of your teeth and gums.
3. Sugar- Speaking of bad foods, soda and sweets are a huge contributor to weakened teeth. Sugars eat away at enamel, with soda doing so better than battery acid. Yikes.
4. Acids- Many of our favorite foods contain acids. Acids on their own are not terrible, but routine exposure to the teeth has harsh effects, stripping away enamel and exposing dentin.
5. Damage- Many people damage their teeth without knowing it. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is very very common these days–and many patients do not know they have it initially. Patients also damage their teeth when they fall, or playing sports.
6. Age- Everything gets harder as you get older. Our backs start hurting, our guts get bigger, and our dental health declines. Flip the switch and turn up all your healthy habits sooner rather than later.
How can you repair a chipped tooth?
Speak with your dentist. Begin with a proper cleaning. Then have x rays taken to ensure the problem is not affecting the root structure of your teeth. If your dentist advises on a cosmetic repair, you have some options.
* Tooth bonding- The simplest option, wherein a small bit of composite and resin is applied to the tooth to reshape the crack or chip
* Tooth Replacement- These options include crowns and bridges, where the tooth is replaced with a brand new prosthetic. When done right, no on will notice a thing, and you will care for the replacement like any other tooth.
* Dental Implants- This is the ideal option if the problem extends to the root of your teeth. Implants are actually anchored within the patient’s jaw, and this stimulates all the bones and tissues down there. This stimulation prohibits further decay and provides a beautiful new tooth.
What does your dentist recommend?
What caused your chip or crack is between you and your dentist. All we can say is you should take care of the problem sooner rather than later. Call into your doctor today to see how soon they can get you in to check out your cracked or chipped tooth.