Half my tooth broke off

Half my tooth broke off

It’s not uncommon for people to lose their teeth as they age, but there are many factors that can cause this problem. In many cases, if a person loses a tooth or if a tooth breaks in half or cracks, the situation could have been prevented. To best prevent the loss or breakage of a tooth, it’s helpful to understand why a person’s tooth might break or fall out in the first place. The most common cause of tooth loss is advanced gum disease, and gum disease combined with dental cavities can combine to compromise the integrity of the teeth and make them less resistant to fracture and more likely to break and fall out. Of course, physical injury or impact caused by trauma to the teeth can also damage the teeth, and there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of tooth loss.

Advanced gum disease is known as periodontal disease or periodontitis and accounts for nearly three-quarters of missing teeth in adults in the United States. Gum disease can be treated and can even be reversed when intercepted early; when it is allowed to progress, however, it destroys the tissues in the mouth and wreaks havoc on the oral cavity. The most common cause of gum disease is the accumulation of bacteria on the teeth and gums, which occurs naturally when food debris combines with saliva and creates plaque. This plaque can be removed with proper oral hygiene, which includes regular dental checkups and professional cleanings, but when it is not properly, thoroughly cleaned away, it calcifies and causes inflammation in the gums, which loosen their protective hold on the teeth, allowing additional destructive bacteria to enter the gums. As this cycle continues, the gum tissue, connective tissues, and bone that hold the teeth in place is destroyed, and the teeth eventually loosen and fall out.

The accumulation of bacteria on the teeth can also cause dental cavities to form. At the start, a dental cavity is a hole in the enamel and surface layers of a tooth. When a dental cavity is allowed to progress and a tooth decays significantly, the cavity can ravage the dental pulp at the center of the tooth, and, if a root canal cannot save the tooth, the tooth will need to be extracted. As the cavity progresses and destroys the tooth, it’s not uncommon for a fragment or chunk of the affected tooth to break off. Like gum disease, cavities can be prevented with effective oral hygiene. A successful oral hygiene routine includes brushing at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles, brushing in gentle circles, and cleaning between the teeth with floss or a water irrigator daily. In addition to maintaining this routine, dentists recommend a healthy, balanced diet to help keep the bones and teeth vital and strong. Certain risk factors, like smoking, diabetes, and arthritis can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay, so be sure to be transparent with your dentist about existing medical conditions and habits.

If you play impact sports, make sure to wear a mouth guard if you want to prevent your teeth from breaking in half or even being knocked out completely. Of course, some impacts and traumas to the teeth can happen by accident, in the case of a fall or a car accident, but some trauma to the teeth can be prevented. Using the teeth for tasks other than chewing food will increase the likelihood of a tooth breaking or fracturing, so don’t use your teeth to open packages or bottles or to untangle knots or crack nuts, and don’t engage in harmful habits like chewing pens or crunching down on ice.