How Can I Tell if My Tooth is Cracked?

Cracks in teeth may happen for all sorts of reasons. You may have a healthy mouth and great oral hygiene, but all it takes is for you to bite down on the wrong piece of popcorn and you can crack your tooth. It can happen that easily - and it can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, we don’t always know that we cracked a tooth as some cracks are very visible and others, not so much.

It is imperative that you see your endodontist if your tooth is cracked. But, if you can’t see it, how do you know?

Here are 5 signs that you may have cracked a tooth.

Pain When Eating. Sometimes, when you have a cracked tooth, it can cause you to experience pain when you bite down on something or when you chew. It may not happen all the time or it may only happen when you eat certain foods - such as something hard.
You shouldn’t have pain when eating. So this should be a sign to you that something may be wrong.
Sensitivity to Temperature. There are those individuals who have sensitive teeth and their sensitivity is always present. However, if you suddenly have a sharp reaction to cold or hot temperatures when you are eating and drinking, you may have a cracked tooth.
This sensitivity can extend past temperature and may cause you to feel it while eating sugary foods or even sour foods, too.
You know what feels normal to you. So, if something feels off in the sensations you feel when eating or drinking certain foods, you ought to make an appointment with your dentist.
Infection. Having an untreated cracked tooth can invite infection in. What starts in the gum line can grow and make its way into the tooth (thanks to the crack). Pain is sometimes an indicator of infection, but you know for sure that you are probably dealing with an infected tooth if you have a small, pimple-like bump on your gums, or swelling in the area.
Sporadic Pain. Tooth pain is always an indicator that something is wrong. But, there are different types of pain. For instance, if you are dealing with an issue that warrants a root canal, you may have decay, infection, or abscess - or all three. More than likely, this will have a more consistent or constant pain, even if it is just a dull ache.
When it comes to a cracked tooth, pain is a sign, but it is often sporadic and intermittent.
No Visible Signs At All. Like we said, if you were dealing with infection or decay, you may have some visible signs that something is going on, such as an abscess along the gum line. You may also be able to see the darkening of a tooth with decay. But what if you don’t see any of these things? What if there are no visible signs that something is going on? This could actually be a sign that the tooth is cracked.

Treatment for Cracked Teeth at Reston Endodontics

Endodontists are experts at saving teeth - and relieving dental pain. If you are experiencing any of the above signs, you should be seen as soon as possible. At Reston Endodontics, we diagnose and treat cracked teeth due to things such as teeth grinding, biting down on something hard, dental trauma, and more.