Cracked Teeth and Cavities
Though in the same section, cracked or broken teeth and cavities are not the same. Teeth can crack for a number of reasons, such as:
• The pressure created during teeth grinding
• Fillings that are too large and weaken the tooth
• Chewing or biting into ice, nuts, hard candy, or something similar
• abrupt temperature changes in the mouth, such as switching from hot soup to ice cold water
• A blow to the mouth as a result of an injury.
• Aging can also weaken the teeth. Many people over 50 experience cracked teeth.
You may notice that there is pain whenever you bite down or chew something, especially when releasing the bite, as well as sensitivity to sweetness or temperatures, and that the affected tooth is surrounded by a swollen gum line.
Cavities can cause similar symptoms but form out of entirely different situations. Most dental decay begins with plaque. When you eat an acidic or sugary meal and do not brush your teeth, the bacteria in your mouth will start feeding on that sugar and forms even more acid. Then, those acids combine with the bacteria, mixes with saliva, and results in plaque formation.
As plaque forms, the enamel is eaten away by the acidic environment. Tiny holes open in the enamel for the bacteria to wriggle in, where it begins attacking the dentin. The acid and bacteria continues further to the pulp of the tooth. When the pulp and the dental bone are attacked to such a degree, you may start to feel pain whenever you bit down and release.
