In this message from Ray McKinley DDS & Brittany McKinley-Holloway DDS — McKinley General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry in Shelby Township, we begin with this scenario: you’re munching popcorn at the movies and bite down on an unpopped kernal. You hear a noise that makes your toes curl.
Crack! You’ve cracked a tooth.
It may or may not be an emergency requiring immediate attention. It depends on whether there is much pain, and cracked teeth don’t always hurt much. But it is definitely something we should look at within a day or so.
Why is it important to fix a cracked tooth?
- When the enamel is compromised, the tooth is more susceptible to decay.
- You may start chewing differently and experience head or jaw aches.
- The tooth may be so week it’s vulnerable to further damage.
- The damaged tooth may damage adjacent or opposing teeth.
- Your tongue won’t leave it alone and it will drive you crazy.
Have you been living with a cracked tooth for a while now? Schedule an appointment and we will fix it.
Don’t Chew Hard Things!
Now, let’s focus on how to avoid this preventable problem.
Steer clear of chewing on hard things if you don’t want a cracked tooth! This includes ice, hard candy, and even popcorn. Be careful with pitted fruits. In fact, be careful with fruit that has supposedly had the pit removed. Sometimes a small hard pit fragment remains.
Wear Sports Mouthguards
Protect your smile against any impact to the mouth that could be experienced during sporting events. If you are a member of a basketball, ultimate frisbee, or flag football league, pick up a mouth guard at any sporting goods store.
Have Regular Dental Checkups
Be sure to keep your regular checkups. We can spot possible problems that could predispose you to a cracked tooth such as an uneven chewing surface or brittle teeth. We canl check for enamel erosion and damage to existing restorations
At Ray McKinley DDS & Brittany McKinley-Holloway DDS — McKinley General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry in Shelby Township, we want all our patients to protect their smiles and enjoy healthy teeth and gums. We offer emergency dentistry, as well as complete general dentistry services. Schedule your next checkup today!
Contact Ray McKinley DDS & Brittany McKinley-Holloway DDS — McKinley General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry:
586-685-0880
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
45665 Village Blvd
Shelby Township, Michigan
48315
