Have you ever felt a sharp pain when you bite down? Does the pain disappear, only to return again? You might have a creaked tooth. A crack is a defect in the tooth structure that occurs because of diet, trauma, temperature extremes or just aging. If you like to chew ice, nuts, hard candy, hard pretzels or unpopped popcorn kernels ---- or if you have a habit of chewing on hard objects like pencils, you are at risk of cracking your teeth. Heat, which causes the tooth to dry out, can also increase the chance of cracks occurring.
Grinding or clenching your jaw makes you more susceptible to cracks because of the tremendous pressure exerted on the teeth. The fact that people live longer today increases the likelihood that they will eventually develop cracks in their teeth.
Any pain, even if it is fleeting, or sensitivity to cold, heat or sweetness should be brought to our attention to determine whether you have a cracked tooth. The sooner the crack is discovered, the better the chance for successful treatments.
