What are the Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth?

A cracked tooth isn’t always easy to see. If you suspect your child has a cracked tooth, it’s essential you schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

 

Reach out to your nearest Kool Smiles Kids Club partner dentist for advice or relieving pain and repairing a cracked tooth. Kool Smiles has partner dentists across the U.S. who strive to provide top-quality, affordable care for children.

 

 

Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth can be difficult to detect, even with an x-ray. Hairline cracks, for example, are nearly invisible. There are many non-visual symptoms that can signal a cracked tooth, including:

• Pain (which may come and go) while chewing.
• Favoring one side of the mouth.
• Mouth pain with no known cause.
• Sensitivity to heat and cold.

 

If left untreated, a cracked tooth can lead to further damage, including infections. If you’re not sure if your child has a cracked tooth, it’s best to get it looked at right away. Dentists have specialized tools and techniques to spot subtle cracks.

 

 

How Did My Child Get a Cracked Tooth?

Sometimes, there’s no apparent reason for a cracked tooth. If your child has a cracked tooth, he or she may have:

• Chewed on something hard – like candy or ice.
• Bitten down on an unexpected bone or pit.
• Suffered an impact injury that injured the tooth.
• Indulged in a very cold drink after eating or drinking something very hot.
• Been grinding their teeth (longterm).

 

Tiny cracks won’t necessarily cause any discomfort. If the crack extends to the root, though, it can cause severe pain and may damage the root (which anchors the tooth).

 

A Kool Smiles partner dentist can assess the crack and let you know what types of treatment and repair are needed.

 

 

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Sources:

CVS: https://health.cvs.com/GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3&chunkiid=840421

ADA: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_25.ashx