While teeth are strong, they aren’t unbreakable. Your enamel can experience a lot of wear and tear due to your lifestyle and diet, resulting in cracks. The guide below looks at ways you might inadvertently be harming them so you can avoid emergency trips to the dentist.

3 Causes of Cracked Teeth

1. Teeth Grinding

Whether it’s caused by stress or an abnormal bite, teeth grinding can put a lot of pressure on your teeth and cause them to crack. Relaxing one’s jaw muscles, avoiding alcohol in the evening and reducing one’s stress levels may help break this habit. If you tend to grind your teeth while you sleep, a dentist can outfit you with a custom mouthguard for protection.

2. Chewing Ice

Sucking on ice can help you cool down on a hot day and even relieve dry mouth symptoms. However, biting down on ice can damage your tooth enamel over time, causing you to need dental work. The abrupt temperature shift—if you go from eating something hot to the chill of the ice—can also work to expand dental cracks.

3. Injury to the Mouth

A blow to the mouth, whether it’s during a car accident or while playing a sport, can crack a tooth. Wearing a mouthguard and helmet while playing sports can help protect your oral health—and you should seek medical help immediately following the incident.

If you have cracked your tooth, turn to the professionals at Tri-Cities Dental in Colleyville, TX. The dentist and staff have over 25 years of combined experience in the field and serve patients of all ages. They provide a variety of dental services, including teeth cleaning, fillings, and root canals, and strive to build lasting relationships with their patients. Read satisfied customer reviews on Google. To learn more about their services, visit them online. Call (817) 283-3427 to set an appointment.