A chipped tooth can happen to anyone. But for most people, it doesn’t happen very often. So if you find yourself chipping your teeth regularly, you should investigate what might be causing it.
Here are common reasons why some people experience more chipped teeth than others. Some of these are chronic conditions that lead to tooth damage over time. Others are acute situations that cause the actual trauma that chips the tooth. Some of these are controllable, while others are not. During your consultation, we will look at your teeth and assess the chips to determine what can be done to reduce chipping in the future.
Genetics
Tooth enamel is very similar among people, but it’s not identical. Some people have genetic traits that undermine the strength of their tooth enamel, making it more likely to chip.
We haven’t mapped DNA well enough to be able to highlight all the genes that control tooth enamel formation, so we typically consider this after we’ve eliminated other potential causes.
The good news is that porcelain veneers are a great treatment if this is the cause of your chipped teeth. Modern veneers are made of advanced materials that are many times stronger than tooth enamel.
Diet
Teeth are built of minerals, and if you’re not supplying them with the minerals they need, they can’t be as strong as they should be. If your diet doesn’t have vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and silicon, your teeth may be more susceptible to chipping. Make sure your diet includes fruits, vegetables, and other foods that supply these and other vital ingredients for healthy teeth.
In particular, getting the right diet is especially crucial during the years that your teeth are forming. If you don’t eat healthy when you’re young, you are more likely to experience chipped teeth when you get older. If your diet was especially bad during your youth, you might have defects in your enamel that aren’t just structural–they might be visible as well.
Decay and Erosion
On the other hand, you might have all the things necessary for healthy, strong teeth, but maybe some other things, too. In particular, an excess of sugar in your diet can put your teeth at risk by feeding oral bacteria.
Decay can weaken your teeth, even if you haven’t developed a cavity. Early decay can leach vital minerals from your teeth, making them weak.
But it’s not just oral bacteria that can leach minerals from your teeth. Acidic foods and drinks–especially carbonated sodas, energy drinks, fruit juices, and wines are acidic enough to take minerals from your teeth and make them susceptible to chipping.
If decay and erosion are responsible for weakened teeth, dental crowns are a great way to strengthen and protect them.
Work
Your job may also be bad for your teeth. Accidents or violence in the workplace can lead to chipped teeth. You may also be clenching your teeth from workplace stress, causing your teeth to crack and chip.
Make sure you’re following all the safety guidelines and practices at work, and, if necessary, consider looking for a less stressful job.
Hobbies
Many hobbies can also lead to more frequent tooth injuries. If you play any kind of sport, for example, you’re more likely to have your teeth injured. Contact sports are especially likely to result in oral injuries, but noncontact sports like bicycling and can also put your teeth at risk. Amateur athletes are more likely to suffer tooth injuries in part because they don’t always wear a mouthguard.
A mouthguard can protect your teeth from sports-related injuries.
Oral piercings can also chip your teeth. If you have piercings of the lip, cheek, or tongue, you’re more likely to chip your teeth.
Finally, any hobby is more likely to result in a chipped tooth if alcohol is involved. Avoid drinking when you are operating machinery or driving.<
Bite
An imbalanced bite related to TMJ and other conditions can subject your teeth to excessive force. This can make your teeth chip, one by one. If you have experienced multiple chipped teeth, we’ll evaluate your bite to see if it’s properly balanced.
If not, we’ll use neuromuscular dentistry to bring your bite back into balance. This could be a necessary step no matter what else might be contributing to your chipped teeth. It will protect not only your teeth, but also any restorations that have been placed on those teeth.
A Comprehensive Solution
Are you tired of chipping one tooth after another? Do you want a treatment that looks for the root cause of your chipped teeth to stop future damage?
If so, then please call (910) 392-6060 today for an appointment with Wilmington, NC restorative dentist Dr. Michael Kuzma at Kuzma Advanced Dentistry.
