What to do when your teeth or fillings keep breaking?
Do your teeth or fillings keep breaking? It can be frustrating and expensive when your teeth keep breaking or your fillings constantly fall out, but you’re not alone, it’s more common than you think.
There are several reasons why your teeth or fillings might keep breaking, including:
Age
It’s natural that as you get older your teeth will become more used and worn down. Your teeth have been exposed to many years of chewing, dental procedures, tooth decay and exposure to different foods and drinks. This can cause your teeth to weaken and break.
With fillings, they may be designed to last a long time, but they are not permanent. How long they last will depend on the material. Gold fillings will last longer than composite fillings.
Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding, or as it’s commonly known, Bruxism, is a common reason why teeth and fillings break. The force of grinding during the day or night can weaken teeth and cause them to break. Over a period of time the layers of the teeth wear down and cannot withstand the same amount of force. If you grind your teeth it’s important to see a dentist asap.
Poor dental hygiene
One major cause of broken teeth or fillings falling out of the mouth is poor oral care. When teeth and gums aren’t cared for properly, damaging bacteria can stay in your mouth and dissolve the enamel on your teeth or cause cavities and decay. This can cause your teeth to weaken and break over time.
Diet
Eating acidic and sugary foods can cause decay and impact how long your crowns last. Also, biting too hard and chewing food that is too hard can cause your teeth and fillings to break. While we don’t recommend a diet of soup and soft foods, chewing ice and hard lollies can break your teeth, especially if they are already weak.
How to prevent weak teeth
Treating the underlying cause, such as teeth grinding, is a great option to strengthen teeth, but there are also other ways to fix weak teeth.
Dental bonding is one option for repairing tooth enamel. A dental resin will be applied to the damaged area of the tooth to restore the surface and make it stronger.
Practicing good dental hygiene and booking regular dental check-ups can help prevent weak teeth. Brushing teeth morning and night with a fluoride toothpaste will strengthen tooth enamel and flossing will help prevent cavities and decay.
Dental treatment for weak teeth
If the damage is more severe, you may have to consider more complex dental treatment such as crowns, root canal or extraction.
Dental crowns are one way to strengthen weak teeth. It’s essentially a cap that covers the tooth and protects it from damage. Crowns can last 10 to 12 years, so they are a great way to strengthen weak teeth.
If your tooth is in extremely bad condition and cannot be fixed with a crown, the tooth may have to be extracted. The gap can be filled with a dental implant or bridge.
How to fix broken teeth or fillings?
If left untreated, broken fillings or teeth can be subjected to harmful bacteria that can lead to further tooth decay. In severe cases of decay you may need root canal treatment.
If a tooth breaks, or a filling falls out, the first thing you should do is book an appointment with the team at The Practice. If it’s a serious break, emergency appointments are available. While you are waiting for your appointment we recommend keeping the tooth clean and rinsing out with salt water to kill any bacteria and prevent further damage.
For more information about preventing broken teeth and fillings, book an appointment online at our West End dental clinic, or contact our friendly team on (07) 3733 3223. Alternatively, email admin@thepracticedental.com.au
