Why Are My Teeth Chipping Easily? Professional Suggestions & Solutions

The last thing most people expect when eating a scrumptious pastry is to bite down on something hard. It’s even more upsetting to look for the cause of the sensation and find a portion of a tooth! At that point, most people have only one question in their mind: why are my teeth chipping easily?!

To get to the bottom of such a mystery, we’ll have to talk about the structure of our teeth. Hopefully, the information we’re about to present will save you the misery of having to spit out chunks of your teeth. If nothing else, we’ll also present some information about veneers for those who don’t manage to save their natural teeth. With that in mind, let’s talk about why some teeth shatter and others don’t.

Why Are My Teeth Chipping Easily and What Causes Brittle Teeth, Anyway?

Did you know that the outer layer of our teeth — the enamel — is actually the strongest substance in the human body? Even so, the list of things that can compromise that impressive layer of minerals is awfully long.

If we fail to stay on track with our dental hygiene habits, the “spitting out chunks of teeth” scenario we mentioned before can become all too frequent. The remnants of sugar and carbs on our teeth create the perfect environment for bacterial growth. And, once that bacteria have nothing else to munch on, they invariably start snacking on our teeth.

Usually, these microorganisms start by coating the teeth with plaque, a condition that eventually evolves into tartar. The discoloration and slimy texture that come with those conditions is a dead giveaway of poor oral hygiene.

On top of that, our teeth can also become more brittle as a result of an acidic diet. That’s also why people with chronic heartburn may have more brittle teeth toward the back of their mouth. Acid attacks the enamel directly, weakening it enough for it to start cracking.

In any case, once the protective outer layer of our teeth is weakened, it’s only a matter of time before our teeth start cracking. At that point, any bite or external injury may cause irreparable damage. What’s worse, certain conditions — like teeth grinding — can further accelerate teeth chipping.

What to Do When You Chip Your Tooth

If the unthinkable happens and you end up with a chunk of your tooth in your hand, don’t panic. Instead, schedule an appointment with your dentist and try to keep from touching the jagged surface of your tooth too much.

Doing so might dislodge other parts of the tooth or cause shooting pain if the injury has exposed the sensitive nerve endings in the core of the tooth. Moreover, touching the area may further irritate the gums around the tooth. And ultimately, touching the sharp tooth in your mouth may leave cuts on your tongue.

While waiting for your dental appointment, you may experience discomfort or pain when eating. On top of that, if you didn’t catch the injury on time, a bacterial infection may have developed. Take care of the area as much as you can. Use cold compresses to keep the swelling down and take a painkiller if you need to.

Consider Your Options

When you arrive at the dental clinic appointment, the dentist will assess your situation and suggest some viable treatment options. If the damage on the tooth is minimal, they may simply sand off the jagged edge and polish it. Before they send you on your way, they may apply a layer of resin to the tooth to protect the dentin.

On the other hand, if the injury is extensive enough, they may drill a bit deeper to get rid of the crack entirely. The worst-case scenario is that you might have to get a root canal procedure. But even that shouldn’t be too painful in the hands of a competent dentist. Still, if your dentist suggests that, you should prepare for several visits.

First, they’d apply a nerve numbing agent and let it sit for a few days. After you no longer feel any pain from the tooth, they would extract the nerves and blood vessels from it and apply a filling.

According to this dentist who does good-quality Invisalign in Upper East Side, another option for a chipped tooth is dental bonding.

Lastly, your dentist may feel that veneers are your best bet. But let it be known: that’s another option that would typically take several visits. So be prepared to keep coming back to the clinic until the situation is fully sorted.

Can We Fix Teeth Chipping With Dental Veneers?

At this point, you may be wondering how, exactly, teeth veneers would help you recover a chipped tooth. Well, basically, porcelain veneers would take your compromised enamel out of the equation. As you’ll find here — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10709338/

– many studies have shown the benefits of using these kinds of veneers.

Since the material matches the color and texture of a healthy tooth perfectly, it’ll match the rest of your teeth. What’s more, it’s strong enough to protect any chipping in the future. The only drawback is that you’d have to come to the dental clinic twice.

Once you agree that dental veneers are the best way to fix your chipped tooth, your dentist will prepare the teeth for restoration. First, they’ll sand down the very surface layer of enamel. After getting an impression of your tooth, they’ll send you home with a temporary veneer while they make the permanent one.

Your dentist will notify you when the lab sends them the finished product. When you go into the clinic for your second appointment, the dentist will bond the veneer to your tooth. The result will be a seamless appearance that’s much stronger than your natural enamel. Moreover, the permanent veneer should last for decades without an issue.

Why Are My Teeth Chipping Easily? How to Strengthen Enamel

Now that we know the general prognosis for a chipped tooth, let’s talk about how we can avoid such injuries altogether. Naturally, regular dental appointments are one way to ensure the health of our teeth.

Seeing your dentist every six months will let them warn you if they notice that your oral hygiene habits have become lax. Additionally, they’ll be able to spot decay and discover whether it was caused by teeth grinding or acidic erosion. No matter what the case is, there are some things you can do to decrease your chances of chipped teeth. Namely, you can:

• Reduce your sugar intake
• Limit acidic beverages
• Get treated for acid reflux
• Get fitted with a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding injuries

Constantly wondering why are my teeth chipping easily can’t be healthy! Luckily, between these preventative measures and the treatment options we’ve explained above, we’ll never have to ask that question again!