Enamel Cracks in Teeth: Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Enamel cracks in teeth are a violation of the integrity of the tooth under the influence of several reasons, which over time can lead to cracking. Dentists define several types of such damage: • Craze lines teeth are shallow vertical cracks in a tooth that often appear on adult front teeth. This does not create pain, therefore, aesthetic treatment is often carried out. • A fractured cusp occurs when there is severe caries or excessive grinding of the teeth. In this case, a piece of tooth enamel breaks off, exposing the gums and nerves. The open area of the tooth becomes sensitive to temperature changes, pain occurs when chewing. • Cracked enamel looks like a crack that starts on the surface of the tooth and penetrates deep into the root. A cracked tooth is located in the center of the chewing surface and is often caused by excessive clenching or biting. • A split root is defined as a fracture starting at the crown and extending under the gum. In this case, the tooth is completely divided into 2 halves. At this stage, the tooth cannot be restored and must be removed. • Vertical root fracture occurs when a crack propagates from the root to the chewing surface of the tooth. Since it occurs below the visible part of the enamel, it can often only be identified when infection of the surrounding bones and gums occurs.

What Causes Cracks in Enamel

Cracks on teeth enamel are a very common problem in dentistry. There is no single answer as to why exactly this violation occurs. However, there are several hypothetical reasons for their occurrence:

• Sudden change in food temperature;
• Bruxism;
• Excessive mechanical impact when chewing;
• Presence of caries;
• Malocclusion;
• Injuries to the maxillofacial area.

Cracked enamel symptoms are usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and bleeding. Dentists also identify several important factors that affect the weakening of enamel and the occurrence of cracks. This may be an unbalanced diet, improper hygiene of the cavity, and the addiction to excessive teeth whitening.

How Do You Treat Enamel Cracks

Cracks in enamel are visible in sufficient light. If the patient has found such damage in himself, it is worth contacting the dentist immediately – even a microcrack that does not cause discomfort can lead to tooth splitting over time. If a crack is still found, then, depending on the degree of damage, the dentist decides on the direction of enamel crack treatment. If the damage is superficial, then a course of remineralization is carried out. The surface of the tooth is processed using compounds with calcium, fluorine, and phosphorus. Thanks to this procedure, the enamel is enriched with useful trace elements and restores its natural protective properties. If there is chipped tooth enamel, the dentist recommends removing the nerves and installing a crown. This will help to avoid damage to the pulp and the appearance of an inflammatory process. If you have cracked enamel on the front tooth and this is not only a physical but also an aesthetic problem, dentists recommend installing veneers that will carefully hide the cracks that have appeared. After therapy and the installation of restorative linings, hygienic care will not differ from the usual procedures. However, it is worth paying special attention to some eating habits: eat solid vegetables and fruits once a day; do not combine cold and hot food; after eating sweet and sour foods, rinse your mouth with water. Following simple guidelines and regular visits to the dentist will save you from worrying about your dental health.

What Foods Protect Enamel

The fact that nutrition directly affects the overall health of a person is said not only by nutritionists but also by other specialists. And the dental system is no exception. Proper nutrition helps to strengthen tooth enamel and gums. Many products positively affect the condition of the teeth. All of them should contain calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, and vitamins C and A. What foods do teeth need?

• Hard fruits and vegetables. Thanks to such products, the gums receive an excellent massage and blood circulation improves, and plaque is removed from the teeth. While chewing such food, a sufficient amount of saliva is released, which washes the mouth and reduces the number of bacteria. For example, you can eat carrots, apples, and cucumbers.

• Greens. This food group is filled with vitamins and helps to strengthen the immune system. Lettuce, dill, celery, and basil contain folic acid, iodine, and more. If you regularly eat greens, you can forget about bleeding gums or bad breath. In addition, parsley and green onions have antibacterial properties.

• Dairy. All milk-based foods are high in calcium and potassium, vitamins B and A, which help form strong bones of any type, including teeth. This will help avoid enamel cracks in the tooth. Also, each product has special properties. For example, yogurt quickly raises the pH level and improves the mineralization of the teeth. Cheese increases the amount of calcium in the enamel, as well as the volume of saliva, which reduces the possibility of developing caries.

• Seafood. This is perhaps the ideal type of food, as it has a great effect on the body, and contains many useful components and trace elements. Eating seafood significantly reduces the risk of tooth thinning and enamel erosion. In addition, such food is of particular value to sea fish, since it contains iodine and calcium, which perfectly protect teeth from caries.

• Various berries. They are very useful for the body, due to the presence of various substances, including beta-carotene, magnesium, fluorine, and iodine. In addition, the juice of some of them can be used as a prophylactic against caries. For example, cranberries and grapes are very good for that.

• Eggs. They contain the necessary amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, many vitamins, and phosphorus, which are responsible for strong, healthy teeth that do not lose strength for decades. To avoid cracks in the enamel, you can grind the shell and eat it. It contains the highest amount of calcium.

• Tea and water. As strange as it sounds, these foods are also important for oral health. Both black and green tea contains catechins, a substance that neutralizes unpleasant odors and kills bacteria that cause cavities. As for drinking water, it should be fluoridated to strengthen the enamel and reduce the rate of formation of soft plaque.

If you eat these types of foods, properly balance your diet, and do not forget about oral hygiene, you can live your whole life without even knowing what caries and crack in enamel tooth are. Your teeth are meant for life. And to avoid damage, make it a rule to undergo a preventive examination at the dentist on time. And when cracks appear, do not postpone a visit to the dental clinic for a long time, because it is the specialist who will help you choose the most appropriate treatment plan.