When it is said...

Fractured Tooth

My Tooth Has Broken – How Did It Happen?

When part of a tooth breaks off, we often blame something we have eaten, such as sticky sweets or popcorn. In reality, however, the food itself may not have caused the fracture. Sticky sweets can trigger or accelerate a fracture, but the tooth was most likely already weakened beforehand.

For example, a tooth with a dental filling, where part of the hard tooth tissue has already been lost, or a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment, meaning that the dental pulp has been removed and the root canals have been filled, is weaker than a healthy tooth.

There are also other reasons why a tooth may crack or fracture, including tooth decay, direct trauma during sports or biting down on a hard object, weakening of the hard tooth tissue through abrasion or grinding, and similar factors. In some cases, the tooth simply cannot withstand the enormous pressure generated by the jaw muscles and fractures while chewing food.

One way to protect your teeth against fractures is to wear mouthguards in high-risk situations, for example during sports. Custom-made mouthguards can be produced by your dentist to fit your individual dentition.

Looking after your teeth and visiting your dentist or dental hygienist regularly, ideally every six months, can also help keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.