by Malavi Sivakanesan • 24 January 2025 • 5 min read
A chipped tooth can easily ruin your smile, and it’s an issue you’d want to address as quickly as possible. However, there may be situations where the damage isn’t clearly visible, but you’re experiencing discomfort or a strange sensation that leaves you questioning whether these are symptoms of a chipped tooth or something else entirely. It’s also important to note that the symptoms of a chipped tooth, cracked tooth, and broken tooth can often overlap, making it tricky to pinpoint the exact problem. Understanding the differences between these issues is crucial for identifying your condition and seeking the appropriate treatment. So, let’s find out the main difference between them and then understand the common signs of a chipped tooth to help you determine your next steps.
What’s the Difference Between a Cracked, Chipped and Broken Tooth?
Chipped, cracked, and broken teeth might sound similar, but they are different in many ways, including their treatment procedure. Here’s how they are different:
Chipped tooth: A chipped tooth usually has chips at the edge of your tooth, and it works its way inward. Though small chips may be painless, large chips that expose the inner layer can give you pain and discomfort.
Cracked tooth: A cracked tooth often starts near the gum line, and it can extend to the roots of your tooth. Cracked teeth can cause you more severe pain and difficulties.
Broken tooth: Broken tooth is a broad term which covers everything from minor chips to complete tooth breakages. This can be painful, but it is repairable with dental treatments.
What are the Causes of a Chipped Tooth?
There can be several reasons for chipped teeth, and understanding those reasons can help you in preventing any further damage. Some of the reasons are
Bruxism
Teeth grinding (bruxism) can weaken your tooth enamel, and your teeth will become more vulnerable to chips. Using a custom-made mouthguard can help you protect your teeth from bruxism when you sleep.
Hard Foods
Chewing hard foods like nuts, hard candies, or even ice can lead to fractures and cracks in teeth. It is advisable to not open bottle caps or packaging by using your mouth to prevent getting chipped teeth.
Weakened Enamel
Weakened enamel, caused by factors like acidic diets, poor oral hygiene, teeth grinding, ageing, genetic predisposition, or medical conditions, makes teeth more vulnerable to chipping. Protecting enamel through proper care can help prevent such damage.
Injuries
Injuries caused by accidents or sudden falls can result in chipped teeth. If you play contact sports, then it is recommended to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth.
Chipped Tooth Symptoms
If it’s a small chip, then chipped teeth won’t cause you any noticeable discomfort, but here are some common chipped tooth symptoms
Tooth Pain: Chipped teeth can cause pain while biting or chewing your food. Due to the exposed internal nerves, it can become harder for you to bite your food, and you may experience pain.
Increased Sensitivity: You may notice having increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks. This particularly happens because the enamel protecting the inner nerves is compromised.
Tongue Irritation: Chipped teeth can have sharp edges, leading to irritation in your tongue or inner cheek. You may feel discomfort when the chips come in contact with your tongue.
Visible Changes: A chipped tooth may look jagged or uneven, especially if the tooth is located in a noticeable place on the front side.
Why Identifying Symptoms Early is Crucial?
Early identification of chipped filling symptoms can ensure you get professional care and the right treatment. A few more reasons why it is important are
- It can help in preventing further damage. Small chips can grow into cracks and even fracture over time. Treatments like composite bonding London can help repair chips, cracks, and discolouration.
- It helps prevent the exposed inner layer from decaying and bacterial infection.
- Untreated and severely damaged chips can lead to tooth loss, and you might need to get your teeth extracted. However, in such cases, treatments like dental implants London UK can help in replacing the missing tooth and restore your ability to chew.
What to Do If You Notice Symptoms of a Chipped Tooth?
If you notice symptoms of a chipped tooth, here’s what you should do
- Rinse Your Mouth: Clean your mouth gently with warm water to remove any debris and reduce the risk of infection.
- Apply Cold Compress: If you’re experiencing pain or swelling, use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to alleviate discomfort.
- Avoid Chewing on the Affected Side: To prevent further damage, avoid chewing hard foods or using the affected side of your mouth.
- Cover the Tooth: If the chip is sharp, you can use dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover the edges temporarily.
- Contact a Dentist: Schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. They’ll assess the extent of the damage and recommend appropriate treatment, such as bonding, crowns, or veneers. If you have a chipped tooth, check out our detailed guide on how to fix a chipped tooth for effective solutions and treatment options.
Wrapping Up
Addressing chipped teeth when they happen can save you complex dental issues later. Regular visits to the dentist, timely care, and preventive measures can help in ensuring your teeth remain strong and healthy.
If you are thinking about booking an appointment, then Complete Smiles can be your one-stop solution for all your dental needs. They are highly rated on Google, and they provide free consultations for selected treatments. Whether it’s chipped teeth or dental implants, they got you covered in everything.
Malavi Sivakanesan
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.