{"id":4075,"date":"2021-09-11T20:12:05","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T20:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/?p=4075"},"modified":"2024-03-07T01:18:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T01:18:24","slug":"why-are-my-teeth-chipping-all-of-a-sudden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/why-are-my-teeth-chipping-all-of-a-sudden\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are My Teeth Chipping All of a Sudden?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discover the common reasons why your teeth might be chipping, what to do about it, and how to protect your smile moving forward<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of us have those infamous dreams that involve tooth loss, and it\u2019s always a relief to wake up and find that it was all in our heads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when it happens in real life \u2013 even in a minor way like with a small chip or break \u2013 it can be a scary experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it happens due to a fall or other accident, identifying the cause is simple.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But if you claim <\/span><b>my tooth chipped off for no reason<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, continuously practicing poor hygienic activities may chip your tooth or damage your enamel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides, cavities promote enamel destruction and you may get a destructive tooth structure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will be while eating or randomly in the middle of the night, chances are something\u2019s going on underneath the surface that needs addressing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that\u2019s what we\u2019ll be talking about today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, we\u2019ll be diving into the common reasons why my teeth are breaking into pieces, what to do if it happens to you, and possible treatments your <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/thedentalexpress.com\/\"><b>San Diego dentist<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may recommend to restore your smile.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Chipped teeth problems<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infection might occur if the crack in your tooth extends down to the pulp inside your tooth. Some of the signs of such an illness include<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discomfort while eating<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">temperature sensitivities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A foul odor or sour taste in the mouth<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inflammation of the glands in the face and neck<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>Why Are My Teeth Breaking? Some Common Reasons<\/b><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you get stuck thinking<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about your chipped teeth<\/span><b>, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">then outside of accidents, the decreased amount of your saliva may lead to the drying of your enamel crystals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The enamel, after getting dry becomes more brittle and is eaten away by tooth decay and cavities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chipped teeth can be a warning sign that you\u2019re experiencing dental health issues that require immediate care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most prevalent causes of teeth chipping for no apparent reason is neglecting to practice good dental hygiene on a consistent basis. Enamel breakdown and degradation compromise the strength of teeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only time you might realize your teeth have changed is if one of them chips. Brushing twice daily for two minutes can reduce the likelihood of tooth chipping.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Symptoms of A Chipped Tooth\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After having the chipped tooth, you will encounter various symptoms, and it does not matter whether the chips are minor or major. The common symptoms are\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may feel irritation in the gums around the chipped tooth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you run your tongue on your teeth, you may feel a jagged surface\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will feel pain when you put pressure on your teeth during biting\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling irritation in the tongue from catching it on the rough tooth surface <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s take a look at some of the common causes below:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Eating too Much Hard Food<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The outer layer of your teeth, also called the enamel, is made to handle natural foods like vegetables, meats, fruits, and nuts. But hard foods are a totally different story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chewing on things like cubed ice, hard candy, jawbreakers, and even your fingernails can cause serious damage to your dental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it may seem like your teeth can easily crunch through ice cubes or hard candy, the solid texture of these foods slowly weakens the integrity of your enamel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, the damage can reach a point where your teeth simply can\u2019t handle the stress anymore\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that\u2019s when chips and teeth are breaking off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you find yourself habitually munching on ice cubes or hard candy, make it a point to stop as soon as possible. Your smile will thank you!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Grinding Your Teeth<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is an involuntary habit that involves clenching and scraping your teeth together. Depending on its severity, this condition can cause toothaches, headaches, jaw pain, enamel erosion, and even broken teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grinding can be a natural reaction to stress and anxiety, or it can happen while you\u2019re fast asleep. But the tricky part is, some people never experience any symptoms at all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve chipped a tooth and you suspect you may have bruxism, look out for the symptoms listed above and contact your local San Diego dentist immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Advanced Tooth Decay &amp; Cavities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, the majority of you have a dental ailment and ask your dentist <\/span><b>why are my teeth breaking all of a sudden.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more vulnerable your teeth are to tooth decay and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/i-eat-a-healthy-diet-can-i-still-get-cavities\/\"><b>cavities<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and unhygienic oral practices the more likely you are to chip or break a tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides these, when have teeth grinding an clenching habits, you may get broken teeth and it will impact your oral health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A chipped or cracked tooth can result from a cavity that was left untreated and allowed to reach an advanced stage. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This unpleasant chipped tooth pain can be caused by poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol, and tobacco consumption, or even acid reflux and heartburn \u2013 conditions that expose your teeth to stomach acids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When an advanced cavity takes hold of your tooth, it eats all the way through the enamel and reaches the soft inner layer, called the dentin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This severe breakdown leaves your tooth incredibly weak and prone to cracks, chips, and breakage \u2013 not to mention tooth sensitivity and other potentially serious dental health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The risk of cavities like these is one of the many reasons why daily dental care is so important. Proper oral hygiene can prevent plaque from building up on your teeth and getting out of hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Age-Related Wear &amp; Tear<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/dental-care-over-65-everything-you-need-to-know\/\"><b>age<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, our body changes in many different ways, and that includes our dental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your teeth are exposed to acidic foods and drinks every day, and over time our enamel naturally breaks down as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essentially, the older we get, the more likely we are to experience a chipped tooth because our enamel simply isn\u2019t as strong anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, one <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Neamat-Abubakr-Hassan\/publication\/350979418_A_Retrospective_Evaluation_of_the_Prevalence_of_Cracked_Teeth_Among_an_Adult_Population_in_Nevada\/links\/607dfd768ea909241e104b44\/A-Retrospective-Evaluation-of-the-Prevalence-of-Cracked-Teeth-Among-an-Adult-Population-in-Nevada.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>study<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> published just this year found that of the 893 patients observed, those who fell within the 45-54 age range were the ones who experienced cracked teeth most often.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><b>Repair a Chipped Tooth<\/b><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter how small the chip, crack, or break might seem, it\u2019s crucial to seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If not, you risk damaging your tooth further by chewing, leaving it open to infection, and in extreme cases, even losing the tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But these dental emergencies rarely happen at convenient times. There\u2019s a good chance you may chip your tooth after hours or on the weekends when your local dentist is closed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If for whatever reason you can\u2019t seek medical attention, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/oral-health\/guide\/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>WebMD<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recommends these simple guidelines to care for your tooth in the meantime:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re in pain, feel free to manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers until you can make it to the dentist. Just make sure to take them as directed!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rinsing with salt water can also help with any pain and swelling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the chipped tooth has a sharp edge, you can put a piece of sugarless gum or paraffin wax over it to protect your tongue, lips, and cheeks from cuts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need to eat, stick to soft foods and avoid chewing with the affected tooth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For complete instructions on what to do if you lose a tooth, check out our blog: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/7-times-youll-need-emergency-dental-care-dental-express-san-diego-dentistry\/\"><b>7 Times You\u2019ll Need Emergency Dental Care.<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong><a class=\"chartbeat-section\" name=\"treatments\"><\/a>Chipped Tooth Treatment Methods to Restore Your Smile<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the severity of the situation, your San Diego dentist may recommend one of the following treatments for your chipped tooth:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fillings &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fillings are an ideal solution for minor tooth chips that don\u2019t leave any dentin exposed. Nowadays, many dentists offer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/services\/general-dentistry\/tooth-colored-fillings-san-diego-ca\/\"><b>tooth-colored fillings<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that blend in with the rest of your teeth, giving your smile a natural look.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dental Bonding and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/services\/cosmetic-dentistry\/dental-bonding-and-contouring-san-diego-ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Contouring Pliers Dental<\/a> &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonding and contouring is an excellent treatment for small cracks and chips. Using a tooth-colored resin, your dentist will fill in any spaces and contour the material to blend in evenly with the rest of your smile. And the best part? It usually only takes one visit and is one of the most affordable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/services\/cosmetic-dentistry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cosmetic Family Dentistry<\/a> treatments out there.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Crowns &#8211; <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/services\/restorative-and-implant\/dental-crowns-san-diego-ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dental Gold Crowns<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0are perfect for teeth that have a little too much damage for a filling to handle. Acting like a suit of armor, crowns restore the shape and function of heavily cracked, chipped, or eroded teeth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Root Canals &#8211; <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/services\/periodontal-dentistry\/scaling-and-root-planing-san-diego-ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Root scaling and planing<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0are reserved for those cases that involve advanced cavities or severe breaks that lead to infection. During this treatment, your dentist will clean out the contaminated tissue, fill the tooth, and seal it to prevent further infection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Self-Care for A Chipped Tooth\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although you must visit your doctor to treat your chipped tooth until you get medical treatment, try to care for it properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to place the sugar-free gum or temporary dental filling to protect your tongue from damaging<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are feeling severe pain, it&#8217;s best to get a painkiller to avoid the excess pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is recommended to prevent chewing with chipped teeth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After having a meal, floss your mouth to remove the sticky food on your teeth <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 16px;\">Open for Emergency Dental Care Six Days Week<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Dental Express in San Diego, we know these accidents happen at the most inopportune times&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why we make it easy to get the dental care you need when you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a family dentist, we stay open six days a week and accept walk-ins and same-day appointments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you ever have questions about a chipped tooth or other dental emergencies, you can always feel free to give us a call. Our office team is standing by to answer your dental health questions and provide whatever service you need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule your next <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/find-a-dentist-near-me\/\"><b>appointment<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with Dental Express today. Here, your smile always comes first!<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Reading<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/7-times-youll-need-emergency-dental-care-dental-express-san-diego-dentistry\/\"><b>7 Times You\u2019ll Need Emergency Dental Care<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/expert-tips-for-taking-care-of-your-tooth-fillings\/\"><b>Expert Tips for Taking Care of Your Tooth Fillings<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/sensitive-teeth-getting-to-the-root-of-the-problem\/\"><b>Sensitive Teeth: Getting to the Root of the Problem<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-root-canals-hint-they-dont-have-to-be-painful\/\"><b>7 Things You Need to Know About Root Canals (Hint: They Don\u2019t Have to Be Painful)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the common reasons why your teeth might be chipping, what to do about it, and how to protect your smile moving forward Many of us have those infamous dreams that involve tooth loss, and it\u2019s always a relief to wake up and find that it was all in our heads. &nbsp; But when it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[42,52,46,43,51],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4075"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4075"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5089,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4075\/revisions\/5089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}