It can be alarming and frustrating when your teeth start chipping easily. A chipped tooth not only looks unsightly, but it can also lead to more serious dental problems if left untreated. Understanding the potential causes of easy tooth chipping is the first step towards preventing further damage.
What causes teeth to chip easily?
There are several possible reasons why your teeth may be prone to chipping:
- Enamel loss – The enamel is the hard, outer surface of the tooth. If enamel is worn down from excessive acid, abrasion or grinding, the softer dentin underneath is exposed. This makes the teeth more susceptible to chipping.
- Bruxism – Clenching or grinding your teeth, particularly at night, puts excessive force on the teeth and can cause fractures and chips over time.
- Age – As you get older, enamel naturally becomes thinner and more brittle. Older teeth tend to chip more easily from everyday strains.
- Genetics – Some people naturally have softer enamel that chips more easily. Enamel thickness and strength is largely determined by genetics.
- Chewing hard foods – Regularly chewing very hard foods like nuts, candies, ice or popcorn kernels can lead to cracked and chipped teeth.
- Trauma – Accidents, sports injuries, falls and hard blows to the mouth can cause instant tooth fractures.
- fillings – White composite resin fillings are prone to chipping at the edges. The bonding between the filling and natural tooth may weaken over time.
- Previous dental work – Teeth that have been restored multiple times with fillings, crowns or veneers are more susceptible to damage.
Are some teeth more prone to chipping?
Yes, certain teeth tend to chip more often than others:
- Incisors – The front six upper and lower teeth bite directly onto hard foods, exposing them to high impact forces.
- Premolars – The upper and lower premolars have points and cusps that can shear off.
- Teeth with fillings – Any tooth with a large filling is weaker and more fracture-prone.
- Crowded or misaligned teeth – Crooked teeth that bite abnormally experience uneven forces that can cause cracks.
What problems can chipped teeth cause?
Minor chips may not cause any issues initially. However, over time, chipped teeth are at risk of:
- Tooth sensitivity – A chip can expose microscopic tubules in the dentin that lead to hot/cold sensitivity.
- Pulp inflammation – Bacteria and debris can get lodged in a chip and infect or irritate the tooth pulp.
- Abscesses – Severe infections from chipped teeth can lead to painful abscesses in the gums.
- Tooth loss – If decay spreads inside an untreated chip, the tooth may be too damaged and require extraction.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain – Chipped teeth can change your bite alignment and cause jaw pain.
- Cracked tooth – A minor chip can progress into a major, irreparable cracked tooth over weeks or months.
How are chipped teeth treated?
Treatment depends on the size, location and severity of the chip. Options may include:
- Smoothing rough edges – Small chips are gently smoothed for comfort.
- Bonding – Tooth-colored composite resin is matched to the natural tooth shade and adhered over the chip with a special bonding agent.
- Porcelain veneers – Thin shells of custom-made porcelain can mask chips on front teeth.
- Crowns – Artificial tooth caps envelop the entire tooth for more protection when a chip is very large.
- Root canals – If a chip extends deep enough to expose the pulp, a root canal will be required before major restoration.
- Extractions – Non-restorable, infected or abscessed chipped teeth may need to be removed.
How can I prevent my teeth from chipping?
You can minimize your risk of tooth fractures with these tips:
- Use a custom night guard if you clench or grind your teeth.
- Wear a sports mouthguard for contact sports.
- Have cosmetic bonding applied to small chips when they first occur.
- Don’t chew on ice, hard candy, bones, popcorn kernels or other very hard foods.
- Cut foods into smaller pieces instead of biting into large chunks.
- Get misaligned teeth straightened with orthodontic treatment.
- Have old metal fillings replaced with tooth-colored composite fillings.
When to see a dentist
You should see a dentist right away if you chip a tooth. The sooner it is professionally treated, the better chance you have of preventing long-term problems. Seek emergency dental care if:
- The chip is large, exposing the inner pulp chamber
- You have pain, swelling or bleeding from the chipped tooth
- You think pieces of the tooth may have broken off and been swallowed or aspirated
- The chip was caused by facial trauma and may involve damage to surrounding teeth and tissues
Even for minor chips, it’s important to have it evaluated by a dentist. They can smooth it properly and check for any signs of infection developing. You can also discuss options like dental bonding, veneers or crowns to repair the flaw for cosmetic and functional reasons.
Conclusion
Chipped teeth are a common dental problem that affects millions of people. The enamel starts chipping away from everyday wear and tear, accident trauma, age, genetics and oral habits like teeth grinding. Minor chips may not cause complications initially but should still be treated quickly to protect the tooth. Severe fractures deep into the tooth can lead to the need for root canals, crowns or tooth extractions if infection develops in the exposed pulp. Preventing your teeth from chipping in the first place is ideal through protective mouthguards, avoiding hard foods, correcting misaligned bites with orthodontics and promptly fixing small fractures with bonding. But if a chip does occur, don’t delay in seeing your dentist to keep your smile healthy and flawless.