Common symptoms
- • A sharp jolt when biting, often worse when you release the bite
- • Pain on one particular tooth with certain foods only
- • Sensitivity to cold that comes and goes
- • No visible damage to the tooth
- • Symptoms that have grumbled on for weeks or months
Likely causes
- • Biting on something hard such as ice, olive stones or crusty bread
- • Grinding or clenching, especially at night
- • Large old fillings weakening the remaining tooth
- • Heavily restored or root-filled teeth without a crown
- • An accident or blow to the mouth
What can help tonight
- • Chew on the other side and avoid hard or crunchy foods
- • Use a sensitivity toothpaste while you wait for an appointment
- • Take pain relief as directed on the packet if needed
- • Wear your night guard if you have one
- • Avoid extremes of temperature
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Always follow the advice given to you by your dentist.
When it's an emergency
- • Facial swelling spreading towards your eye or neck
- • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- • A tooth broken with severe bleeding after an accident
If any of these apply to you, call 999 or attend A&E now. Outside these signs, NHS 111 can advise out of hours.
What a ToothAid dentist can do online
The way the pain behaves is the key to diagnosing a crack, and a dentist can work through that with you over video, advise on protecting the tooth and tell you how urgently it should be looked at.
What needs in-person treatment
Confirming a crack needs in-person tests such as bite sticks, transillumination and X-rays. Treatment ranges from an onlay or crown to protect the tooth, to root canal treatment or extraction if the crack extends into the root.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the pain worse when I let go of the bite?
Releasing pressure allows the cracked segments to move apart, which irritates the nerve. It is one of the most characteristic signs of a crack.
Can a cracked tooth heal?
No. Cracks do not repair themselves, and they usually spread if the tooth is not protected.
Will a filling fix it?
A filling can make a crack worse by wedging it open. Cracked teeth usually need a cusp-covering restoration such as an onlay or crown.
Why can't the crack be seen on an X-ray?
Most cracks run in a direction X-rays cannot capture. Dentists diagnose them from symptoms plus clinical tests.