I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
A small chip in your tooth may look harmless enough, but it can actually lead to serious problems down the road. The chip usually breaches the outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, leaving the inner dentin and pulp susceptible to stains and cavities. Since the enamel shields the tooth from damage, a chip in this armor-like material can even allow cracks to develop. You must seek dental care and have the chip in your tooth repaired in a timely manner to avoid the three following complications.
Tooth Stains
Teeth actually develop stains at the dentin level. When your tooth is chipped, darkly pigmented substances, such as wine or coffee, can quickly reach the dentin and cause nearly instant discoloration. The chipped tooth will develop stains much faster than adjacent teeth, which makes it difficult to correctly restore your natural tooth color using standard whitening practices.
Cavities
Bacteria expel acidic waste on your teeth that slowly eats through the tough enamel layer. If the acidic waste comes into contact with the relatively soft dentin layer, cavity development is accelerated, which increases the risk of damage to the pulp and root of your tooth. If the cavity reaches deep into the pulp or root material, you may need to have a root canal performed to avoid infection and reduce the chance of losing that tooth.
Cracks
When the enamel develops a chip, its entire structure is weakened, putting it at risk of developing cracks when placed under stress. As you chew your food, especially crunchy snacks, your enamel could start to crack around the edges of the chipped area. If the crack suddenly widens, you may even lose a portion of the tooth, leaving the inner layers exposed to the elements. If this occurs, you will likely need a crown, bridge or implant to fully restore your tooth.
Obtaining Dental Repairs
Give your dentist a call to set up an appointment upon noticing a chip in any of your teeth. You do not need to be seen on an emergency basis, however, unless the tooth is causing pain at that time. Make sure to avoid hard or chewy foods while waiting for your appointment, as these foods can put potentially-damaging mechanical stress on the weakened tooth. Your dentist will likely need to take x-rays to check for cracks and internal damage before fixing the chip. In many cases, a simple chip, without any complications, can be repaired by filling the damaged area with composite resin.
Share17 June 2016
