January 24, 2025
A broken tooth situation can arise for anyone, but not all broken teeth should hurt. If you are experiencing pain, the damage is likely more severe than you expect, and you should seek dental help immediately.
Read on to learn about broken tooth causes and some common reasons why your broken tooth hurts.
A broken tooth can occur due to various reasons, such as:
A broken tooth can occur due to various reasons, such as:
Dental Trauma
One of the major reasons for a broken tooth is dental trauma or accidental injuries. This can occur due to sports injuries, road accidents, or impact on the face and neck region.
Biting on Hard Foods
Chewing hard foods like ice, nuts, or hard candy puts too much pressure on your teeth, which can weaken the enamel. Over time, this stress can cause small cracks that may eventually lead to breakage.
Decay
Neglecting oral hygiene routines like skipping brushing and not flossing are some poor hygiene habits that can lead to plaque-producing bacteria. Such bacteria cause the enamel to erode, which triggers tooth decay and gradually makes the teeth more susceptible to fractures. A severely decayed tooth may break easily.
Dental Treatments
Certain dental treatments like large dental fillings or a root canal without capping with a dental crown can make the teeth more brittle. The gradual weakening of the teeth increases the risk of a broken tooth.
Teeth Grinding
Grinding or clenching your teeth, especially during sleep, puts too much pressure on them. Over time, this grinding will wear down the enamel, and this can make your teeth more susceptible to breakage.
Why a Broken Tooth Can Be Painful?
Not all broken tooth instances will hurt, but in certain cases, there can be light to severe pain due to various factors. However, in some situations, you might experience a broken tooth no pain at all, especially if the nerve isn’t exposed or damaged. Even if there’s no discomfort, it’s essential to get it checked by a dentist to prevent further complications.
Exposure of Nerves
Tooth breaks/cracks can cause exposure of the inner layers, known as the dentin, or even the pulp where nerves are located. A painful broken tooth is triggered by the stimulation of these nerves. This results in stabbing pain experienced when chewing or consuming hot food.
Infection
A chipped tooth may allow bacteria to enter, thus leading to infection in the teeth, gums and the surrounding nerve tissue. This infection can cause swelling and nerve irritation, which can cause severe throbbing pain and discomfort. If not treated at the earliest, you might need to get your tooth extracted, too.
Sharp Edges
A broken tooth mostly has jagged edges that can irritate and cut the soft tissues inside the mouth, such as the gums, tongue or the inner cheek. This can cause pain and discomfort.
What to Do When Your Broken Tooth Hurts
If you are experiencing a painful broken tooth, chances are your nerves have been exposed, and an infection might develop. You can try taking broken tooth pain relief medicine for temporary relief, but if the pain is unbearable and doesn’t subside, reach out to a dentist as soon as possible. If you’re wondering what to do for a broken tooth, seeking professional dental care is the best course of action to prevent further damage and ensure proper treatment.
For the best care, book a consultation with Complete Smiles. They have a highly qualified team and are open 7 days a week to provide the best dental care when you need it most.
Dr. Malavi Sivakanesan (292322)
Dr. Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.