Cracked teeth can be painful, upsetting, and expensive to correct.

Protecting children’s teeth from chips and cracks should be something that is discussed and reviewed at a young age. We will review several ways to avoid cracking teeth from early on.

1. Don’t chew things that are solid and hard! Stay away from ice cubes, hard candies, popcorn kernels that haven’t been popped, certain nuts, hard beef jerky, and raw carrots. Also be on the lookout for fruits with hard pits. Some peaches may appear soft, however, when biting into them you might bite into the pit and cause tooth damage.
2. It is extremely important for your child to protect his or her teeth while participating in any physical activity where their mouth could accidentally have some form of contact. Many parents make a mouthguard mandatory for their children that participate in football, soccer, and hockey. In addition to these sports, sports like gymnastics, skiing, and skateboarding can be dangerous as well. As a parent, consider requiring your child to wear a mouthguard while participating in sports. Your little one will make it a habit and his or her teeth will thank you!
3. It is a good idea to teach your little one not to use their teeth as a tool. Set an example and tell them not to rip open packets or tear off things like tags with their teeth. Instead of biting things open, including food like nuts, consider using a nutcracker. Breaking a tooth because it was used like a tool can require a dental crown if a crack occurs. A quality dental crown could cost several hundreds of dollars.
4. Another factor that can easily lead to a cracked tooth is grinding of teeth. If your child has a tendency to grind his or her teeth, contact Wabash Valley Children’s Dentistry as soon as possible. We treat the grinding of teeth with various techniques. Teeth grinding is something that you don’t want to let go. It can lead to chronic head and jaw pain as well as wear down your teeth and tooth enamel.
5. Bring your child to Wabash Valley Children’s Dentistry on a regular basis for cleanings and check-ups. We can alert you to conditions that might predispose your child to cracked teeth. One of such conditions might be an uneven chewing surface that may need attention. Another might be teeth that are more brittle than normal. We might also find small cracks or pockets of bacteria that you were not aware existed. These cracks can be repaired before even worse damage occurs.

If your child has a cracked or chipped tooth, do not worry too much, however, don’t delay. We treat cracks and chips both small and large. If your child has a problem with his or her tooth, call 812-234-5437 today to schedule an appointment!