Why Does a Tooth Crack?

A tooth that is cracked can be painful.  Sometimes, it can be hard to tell which tooth is the source of the discomfort and often the crack cannot be seen on an x ray.  Patients often ask what caused their tooth to crack.  The most common reasons a tooth may develop a crack are:

• Loss of tooth structure due to large fillings which can exert outward forces on the remaining tooth structure
• Frequent chewing on hard foods such as ice, hard nuts or hard candy
• Grinding or clenching your teeth
• Teeth that have had a root canal that have not been permanently restored and are brittle

A cracked tooth may hurt because the pressure of biting causes the crack to open. When you stop biting, the pressure is released and the pain goes away.  Even if the crack is too small to see, when it opens, the pulp inside the tooth may become irritated.  The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth where the nerve and blood vessels are located.  If the crack irritates the pulp, the tooth may become very sensitive to hot and cold.  If the pulp becomes diseased due to the crack, a root canal (endodontic treatment) may be necessary to save the tooth.

The most common symptoms of a cracked tooth are:

• Sharp pain when biting down but then quickly disappears when not biting
• Extreme sensitivity with hot and cold

Sometimes upon visual examination, the dentist can see a crack in a tooth, but the patient has no pain or sensitivity.  This means that the crack has most likely not yet penetrated the tooth enamel, but in most cases, eventually the crack will penetrate deeper into the tooth and the patient will begin to have sensitivity.

Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the size and location of the crack.  Sometimes the crack can be repaired by replacing an old filling.  If the crack cannot be repaired by a filling, then placing a crown (cap) over the entire tooth protects the tooth from further damage.  Unfortunately, sometimes the tooth is too severely cracked and must be extracted.

A cracked tooth can become a bigger problem if it is left untreated, not to mention painful every time you bite down on something.  If you think you may have a cracked tooth, it is important to have an exam by your dentist.

Great Alternatives to Traditional Braces

One of the most common things adults say they would like to change about their smile, is to have straighter teeth.  When people think of wearing braces, they often envision a smile full of metal brackets, which for kids is not so bad, but most adults are not interested in having the "railroad track" look.  Fortunately, there are some really great alternatives to metal brackets which are available for both teens and adults.

Invisalign is a type of orthodontic correction that involves wearing clear custom fit "aligners" (trays).  The process is quite simple and painless.  First you need to have a consultation with an orthodontist who is an Invisalign provider to make a determination if you are a candidate for Invisalign braces.  Once this has been determined, the orthodontist will take a series of impressions (molds) of you teeth and photographs of you.  All of this information is sent to a special lab where your custom "aligners" are made,  this process takes several weeks.  Once your aligners are delivered to you, they are worn for 22 hours a day.  The only time they are removed is when you eat something, and of course when you brush and floss.  Every two weeks you put in a new set of trays, and about every 6 weeks you see your orthodontist for a progress check and to get your next 2-3 sets of trays. The total treatment time can range anywhere from 12-24 months.
The aligners are clear, so most people don't even realize you have anything in your mouth.  There are no sharp edges that can irritate your gum tissue, or cause injury if you are accidentally hit in the mouth.  This is great for people who play sports or musical instruments that require using a mouthpiece!

Another new alternative to traditional brackets is called Incognito Braces.  As with Invisalign, first you need to have a consultation with an orthodontist who is an Incognito Braces provider.  Once the determination has been made that you are a good candidate for Incognito Braces, your orthodontist will take impressions (molds) of your teeth and send them to a specialized lab that uses 3D technology to create custom fit brackets and wires that get cemented on the inside of your teeth.  The brackets cannot be seen when you smile, since all of the brackets and wires are placed only on the inside surfaces of your teeth. Since the brackets are on the inside of your teeth, your lips and gums won't get irritated because the brackets and wires won't be rubbing on your tissues.  With Incognito, there are no trays to remove or clean.  You still have to see your orthodontist every 6 weeks or so for a progress check. 

Our orthodontist offers consultations at no charge,  so if you are interested in determining if you are a candidate for Invisalign or Incognito, give our office a call!

Is Mouthwash Good for your Teeth?

A trip down the dental aisle in your local market can be quite overwhelming with the number of different types of toothpastes and mouthwashes  available.  Some claim to whiten teeth, while others are for preventing tooth decay or fighting plaque.  There are benefits to some mouthwashes.  Lets examine the different types of mouthwashes and their uses.

Fluoride Mouthwash
Mouthwashes with fluoride do have the ability to help reduce tooth decay.  There have been many studies over the years to prove that fluoride can strengthen and reduce the breakdown of tooth enamel thus reducing the possibility of getting a cavity.  Any over-the-counter mouthwash that specifically lists fluoride  as an ingredient can be beneficial when used regularly to help prevent tooth decay.   A specific type of fluoride, called stannous fluoride not only helps keep tooth enamel resistant to decay, but it also has antibacterial properties which help control periodontal disease.

Anti-Bacterial Mouthwash
Periodontal (gum) disease is caused by plaque from bacteria and food that sticks to the teeth.  The bacteria release an acid that breaks down the bone around the teeth and this acid irritates the gums.  Our body responds to this irritation by producing more acids to kill the bacteria, which then causes bone loss and inflamed, infected gums.  Keeping bacteria in the mouth to a minimum is the key to controlling gum disease.  Along with daily thorough brushing and flossing, anti-bacterial mouthwashes can help to lower the amount of bad bacteria in the mouth.  Listerine is an example of an over the counter anti-bacterial mouthwash.  It is now available without alcohol which eliminates the burn feeling.  There are also some very good anti-bacterial mouthwashes available only through a dentist.

Some over the counter mouthwashes claim to be "anti-plaque" but in fact have nothing in them that actually reduces bacteria. They taste good and make your teeth feel smooth, but they don't actually reduce bacteria.

If you are pregnant or have diabetes it is especially important to maintain good oral hygiene. During pregnancy, due to elevated hormone levels, women are more susceptible to developing gum disease so good oral hygiene is vitally important.  People with diabetes are more susceptible to infection due to their compromised immune system, so it is important for them to keep their mouth infection free.  Thorough brushing and flossing along with an anti-bacterial mouthwash can help reduce the harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Teeth Whitening Mouthwash
Unfortunately there is no mouthwash that can actually whiten your teeth.  Manufacturers may add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to the rinse to claim that it whitens teeth, but chances are you will not see any change in the shade of your teeth after using one of these products.  If you are interested in whitening your teeth, you would be better off using a professional product from your dentist.

The bottom line is that mouthwashes are an addition, but not a substitute for thorough brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dentist regularly.  Certain mouthwashes have their advantages depending on the needs of the individual.  Talk to your dentist about which rinse would be best for you.