You may be surprised to learn that the question, “Why are my teeth chipping?” is one that dentists hear often. Many patients notice chips in their teeth without an obvious cause and wonder what might be happening.
One common reason for chipped teeth is tooth decay. While accidents and injuries can certainly cause chips or fractures, everyday dental concerns such as decay or gum disease are also frequent culprits. In these cases, a dentist can repair the damage and restore your smile. For patients who want both health and aesthetics addressed, we offer cosmetic dental care in New Hanover County to help strengthen teeth and improve their appearance.
Here are some of the most common causes of chipped teeth:
- Eating food that’s too hard
- Advanced tooth decay
- An imbalanced or misaligned bite
- Trauma to the face or mouth
- Tongue or cheek piercings
- Poor dental hygiene
- Metal amalgam fillings
- Chewing objects such as pens
- Cavities
- Grinding teeth, usually at night (bruxism)
- Age-related wear and tear of the teeth
No one wants to walk around with a chipped tooth. If you have discovered a chipped tooth, please contact a New Hanover County dentist who can fix the chips and get you started on the road to better oral hygiene. Lackluster oral care will lead to more serious dental problems. Tooth decay and cavities that are not treated by a general dentist could lead to tooth extraction, advanced periodontal disease, and other serious problems that could result in tooth loss.
Chipped Teeth Problems
Untreated chipped teeth will likely lead to more severe problems. When you first notice a chipped tooth or several chipped teeth without having been in an accident or having experienced some other trauma, you should contact a general dentist in New Hanover County who can see you immediately. The longer you wait for chipped teeth treatment in North Carolina, the more problems you could have. Chipped teeth may contribute to the following:
- Discomfort while eating or talking
- Fever
- Hot and cold sensitivity
- A foul odor in the mouth
- A sour taste in your mouth
- Inflammation of the glands in the neck and face
These are serious problems that cannot be ignored. Many people think chipped teeth are simply an aesthetics issue, but chipped teeth can damage the health of the teeth, gums, and mouth. Chipped teeth will detract from your smile and your oral health.
Tooth Decay, Cavities, and Chipped Teeth
Generally speaking, the more vulnerable you are to tooth decay and cavities, the more likely you will suffer from chipped teeth. Chipped teeth often result from cavities left untreated; when left untreated, cavities can reach advanced stages of damage. When a progressive cavity takes over your tooth, it eats through the enamel and reaches the soft inner layer of the tooth known as the “dentin.”
The extreme breakdown of your tooth leaves it incredibly weak and prone to cracks, chips, and breakage. You will also likely experience tooth sensitivity and other serious dental issues. For these reasons, it’s very important to contact a New Hanover County general dentist at the first sign of tooth breakage.
How to Treat Chipped Teeth
New Hanover County cosmetic and general dentists have a number of tools to treat chipped teeth. There are many procedures available, and with advanced dental technology, your North Carolina, dentist can repair the chip, save the tooth, and make your chipped tooth beautiful and white again. Here are just a few of the dentistry procedures utilized to fix the problem of chipped teeth:
Get Help for Chipped Teeth in Wilmington, North Carolina
Please act today if you have one or more chipped teeth. This is a common dental problem that, when left untreated, can turn into something much more serious very quickly. Kuzma Advanced Dentistry, serving New Hanover County, stands ready to answer your question, “Why are my teeth chipping?” and get to work right away to fix the chips in your teeth.
Please contact Kuzma Advanced Dentistry today (910) 392-6060. One of our dental team members will schedule a new patient evaluation or answer any questions you may have about chipped teeth.
