Ways of Being Able to Tell if a Tooth Has a Hairline Crack

Just like your bones, your teeth can have hairline fractures. These types of cracks can be caused by many different factors.

Eating hard foods, chewing on ice, or teeth grinding are the main causes of hairline cracks in many cases. Some people may not know they have a hairline crack, but there are ways to tell if you have one.

Things To Look Out For

One of the best ways to determine if you have a hairline crack is by the type of pain you feel in your mouth. Teeth that have hairline cracks present a unique pain compared to other dental complications. When you have a hairline crack, you will usually feel a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down. This pain can range from mild to almost unbearable depending on how bad the crack is.

Another way to tell if you have a hairline crack is to examine your teeth. Hairline cracks may be hard to spot. However, you can spot them if you know what to look for. We recommend getting a flashlight to help you look at your teeth. Next, stand in front of a mirror and shine the flashlight towards your mouth. Hairline cracks will be more visible with the help of a light. If you have a hairline crack, you may see small cracks on the tooth that is bothering you.

It may not be possible to see the tooth with the hairline crack with just a flashlight. Fortunately, we’re here to help you. If you want to determine for sure if you have a hairline crack, call us and set up an appointment. We’ll be able to see if you have a damaged tooth and offer you solutions to fixing it. Hairline cracks can turn into larger problems if you wait, so please come in as soon as possible.