Why Are My Teeth Chipping Easily?

• Reasons Teeth Chip
• Preventing Chipped Teeth
• Treatment Options For Chipped Teeth
• 209 NYC Dental

You wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, only to notice a piece of your upper front tooth missing. It is important to visit 209 NYC Dental right away when your tooth chips off. If it keeps happening, you may be wondering why and if there is anything you can do to prevent it.

Why Do My Teeth Keep Chipping and Breaking?

Why Are My Teeth Chipping?

In some cases, the cause of a chip or broken tooth is obvious. If your face is injured from a fall, car accident, assault or a sport, you may chip a tooth. Even biting down hard on candy or ice can lead to injury and cracks.

In cases where there was no obvious impact to the tooth, enamel weakness can be the issue. Enamel, the outer protective covering of our teeth, is the hardest substance in our body. It allows us to eat everything from hot soup to peanut brittle. Anything that weakens the enamel short-term or long-term will cause teeth to potentially chip, crack or fracture.

Ongoing poor oral hygiene is a common reason why a tooth chips for no apparent reason. Cavities and decay weaken enamel and undermine the integrity of tooth structure. You may not notice any changes in your teeth until you get a sudden chip.

Reduce your risk of tooth chipping by brushing twice a day for two minutes. Use non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and a small, soft toothbrush to avoid damaging enamel. You can also avoid decay by flossing before bed and using an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash when you brush.

Other Reasons Your Teeth Are Chipping

Large fillings make a tooth’s integrity weaker, which can also lead to chips over time. Fillings last seven to ten years. After that point, a visit to the dentist can help you replace older fillings to keep your teeth strong.

Enamel can also be harmed by acidic foods, including:

• Juice.
• Citrus fruit.
• Coffee.
• Spicy food.
• Sugar.
• Honey.
• Candy.
• Alcohol.

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, can contribute to many dental conditions, including chipped teeth. When you have less saliva flow in your mouth, the enamel crystal dries out and becomes more brittle.

Even age can make enamel weaker and thinner. After age 50, enamel is more susceptible to cracks. As we get older, we can also suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding, which wears down the teeth and causes cracks. If we end up missing some teeth, the remaining teeth may experience more force during chewing and may experience more wear and tear, which can lead to cracks and chips.

Preventing Chipped Teeth

You can protect your enamel and teeth by wearing a nightguard if your grind your teeth and a mouth guard if you play sports. Properly brushing and flossing your teeth and using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash will further protect your enamel. Maintaining a healthy diet rich in vegetables and low in sugar can also lower your risk of chipping teeth.

Your dentist at 209 NYC Dental can be your partner in preventing chips and cracks. Schedule twice-yearly checkups and cleanings to protect your teeth. Dental work such as crowns or Invisalign orthodontic treatment can also address many issues that lead to decay and chipped teeth.

Treatment Options for Chipped Teeth

Fortunately,

chipped and cracked teeth can be fixed. A tooth with a minor chip can be smoothed and polished. A larger chip may require a white bonded or composite filling or a porcelain veneer, inlay or crown.

If the chip extends into the nerve of the tooth, a root canal and crown may be needed. In cases where the root is affected, an extraction and possibly a crown, impact or abutment can address the chip.

Schedule an Appointment With 209 NYC Dental

If you notice one or multiple chipped teeth, it is important to visit 209 NYC Dental promptly. Waiting can cause the chips to get bigger and can make treatment more complicated. 209 NYC Dental is open seven days a week for your convenience, and we offer emergency appointments for chipped teeth.

Schedule an appointment online or call us at 212-355-2290.