Tooth Cracked in Half No Pain: What to Do and Why It Happens

Ever bitten down on something tough, and you hear a snap in your tooth—and later recognized that there is no pain whatsoever? But if your tooth cracked in half and there’s no ache to it, you’re left wondering how that could even happen. But you may be asking yourself, “How can a cracked tooth not hurt?” Believe me, I’ve been there. Which is as strange a feeling as it sounds, and might sound like a miracle but comes down to cold hard science. In this blog, I will go into great detail on the reasons why and what you need to do about it.

What Does It Mean When Your Tooth Cracks in Half But Doesn’t Hurt?

Your tooth is cracked, you expect pain? Most of us are conditioned to think this way, so it is the response we usually receive. But a crack in your tooth with no pain is another ball of wax. The first time it happened to me, I was unsure and a bit concerned. The break appeared quite serious, though there were no feelings of pain. Until I saw my dentist, I didn’t know how a cracked tooth can be painless.

So, why this and not the other? There are several reasons for a painless cracked tooth to fall into place. This largely depends on the location of the crack, whether or not it impacts the tooth pulp (the sensitive part inside the tooth), and the general health of the rest of that tooth.

Let’s explore this further.

The Structure of Your Tooth: How It Impacts Pain Sensitivity

Your tooth consists of multiple layers, not all of which are very sensitive. The top layer is the enamel, which is very hard but not at all sensitive. Then there is the dentin which is much softer and has a mild sensitivity to temperature. Pulp — Nerves and blood vessels reside in the tooth’s core, or pulp, which is also responsible for being the most sensitive part of your tooth.

This pain is a lack of experience because when your tooth cracks in two, the crack may not be deep enough to reach the pulp. But, if it deepens down to the pulp pain can occur. I know this, because I broke one of my molars and felt no pain – the crack only reached the dentin. Only on the day I had a dental x-ray it was evidently clear that my pulp was quite safe.

Why Do Some People Experience No Pain When Their Tooth Cracks?

If you cracked your tooth in half and experienced no sensation whatsoever, it would feel like a miracle. Here is a possible reason why that may be.

What Happens if You Don’t Feel Pain After a Tooth Cracks?

Contrast this with the easy part: just because you feel no pain does not mean that there isn’t a serious issue. Even a cracked tooth that doesn’t hurt can create problems down the road. I know this from experience. Because there had been no pain, my first thought on the crack in my tooth was that it wasn’t such a big deal. But the crack eventually grew, and so did the amount of damage it was causing.

The pain, hopefully at least some of the time, will cause you to ignore it. However, if a cracked tooth is not treated properly, it can become infected or crack down further — resulting in losing the tooth altogether. And if your tooth breaks, even if there is no pain, you should go to the dentist immediately for an evaluation.

Can a Cracked Tooth Heal On Its Own?

I wish I could say yes, but no. A tooth that is cracked is not going to simply heal by itself. This may be the one time that it pays to leap before you look –– a cracked tooth is more likely on the path to disaster than improvement. Here’s why:

The Tooth is Cracked: Even if it doesnt hurt, the integrity of the tooth has been compromised and will be more likely to break further.
Infection: A cracked tooth creates an opening for bacteria to enter, which can cause infection. A tooth that needed work could still have been painful even if there was no pain now.
You Might Start Experiencing Tooth Sensitivity: At first, you may not feel any pain, but eventually cracks in your tooth can cause increased sensitivity to temperature either hot and/or cold. At first, I didn’t feel any pain, but after a couple of weeks, my cracked tooth became extremely sensitive to cold water.

What Should You Do if Your Tooth Cracks in Half with No Pain?

When I broke my tooth and it didn’t hurt, I mostly felt nothing was wrong. My Dentist, however, told me that I needed to do something immediately. Here’s what you should do:

Get it examined by a dentist: Even if you are not in pain, reach out to a dentist soon. A superficial crack will not be a cause for concern, but your dentist will know whether or not it is something serious and needs immediate attention.
Stay Away from Hard Foods: Until your dentist checks it, you should stay away from hard or sticky foods. By doing this, it can stop the crack from spreading and from causing more damage.

How Dentists Treat a Cracked Tooth That Causes No Pain

So naturally, you may be thinking about how a dentist would treat a cracked tooth that doesn’t hurt. Well, even if you feel no pain your dentist will still have to treat it. Here’s what your treatment may look like:

X-Rays — Your dentist will probably perform an x-ray to determine how deep the crack is. This allows them to see whether the crack reaches the pulp, or if the tooth needs protection for any other reason.
Bonding or Filling – In many cases of cracked tooth, a dentist can place dental bonding or filling to repair it. It does this by stabilizing the tooth and preventing further cracking. This is amidst one of my cracked molars which this has been done, and it worked well.
Crown the Tooth: If the fracture is extensive, your dentist may suggest a crown to encase and safeguard the tooth. The tooth function can also be restored with a crown.
Root Canal (When Needed): If the crack involves the pulp or if the tooth becomes infected in the future, a root canal will be needed. This has the potential to bring about positive changes in, for example, being able to save the tooth and not needing an extraction.

Preventing a Cracked Tooth in the Future

Ever since breaking my tooth, I have been better at taking care of my teeth. There are ways to prevent cracking your teeth in the future.

Avoid Chewing and Eating on Hard Foods: Again that some foods lead to cracks primarily when chewing things like ice or hard candy. Be careful what you sink your teeth in.
Use a Mouth Guard: If you are a night grinding convert (I was), a mouth guard will help protect your teeth from cracking. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), a custom mouthguard is the best investment choice.
Frequent Dental Visits: If you are regularly visiting a dentist, he can identify future issues and solve them before they turn into cracks. Nowadays, I try to regularly make time for it.
Mistake 5: Using Your Teeth as Tools: This is a simple error to make. Cracks can also happen from using your teeth to open bottles or cutting things. Always use the proper tools.

Conclusion: Should You Worry if Your Tooth Cracks But Doesn’t Hurt?

No pain does not equal no problem! Although a cracked tooth that isn’t painful can seem like an insignificant concern, in many cases, it still requires attention to prevent future dental health defects. What did I take from this post you may ask? That cracked teeth should be dealt with swiftly and that one should not sit back waiting for a miracle cure.

Regardless of pain keep in mind to just see a dentist if you have cracked tooth. It can assist you in preventing larger problems later on with timely diagnosis and therapy. Be proactive about your dental health, and don’t leave a fractured tooth untreated. Your future self will appreciate that, trust me.