Oral Health›Common problems

Cracked, Chipped and Broken Teeth

A cracked or chipped tooth is usually not serious, but a crack cannot heal on its own and can get worse. Here are the signs, what to do straight away, how each kind of crack is treated and how to protect your teeth.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • The NHS says chipping, breaking or cracking a tooth is usually not serious, and a dentist should be able to treat it. See a dentist, not a GP.
  • Typical signs of a crack are pain when biting or chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, and pain that comes and goes. Cracks are often too small to see, even on an X-ray.
  • A crack in a tooth cannot heal itself. Early treatment can help stop it getting worse.
  • If a piece has broken off, keep it in milk or saliva and take it to the dentist.
  • Treatment depends on how deep the crack goes: from smoothing or bonding, to a crown or root canal treatment, to removing the tooth.

The Oral Health Foundation (UK) says cracks in teeth can be very small and harmless, or more serious and painful. The NHS says chipping, breaking or cracking a tooth is usually not serious and a dentist should be able to treat it. But unlike a broken bone, a cracked tooth cannot heal itself, as both the Oral Health Foundation and the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), the US body for specialists in the inside of teeth, point out.

What kinds of crack are there?

The Oral Health Foundation and the AAE describe:

  • Craze lines: tiny, shallow cracks in the enamel (the hard outer layer of the tooth). The AAE says they are extremely common in adults, painless and of no concern beyond appearance.
  • Fractured cusp: a piece of the chewing surface of a back tooth breaks away, often around a filling. The AAE says it rarely damages the pulp (the soft centre of the tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels) and usually does not hurt much.
  • Cracked tooth: a crack that runs from the biting surface towards the root without splitting the tooth. It may slowly spread (AAE) and sometimes goes below the gumline (Oral Health Foundation).
  • Split tooth: often an untreated cracked tooth that has separated into pieces.
  • Vertical root fracture: a crack that starts in the root. The AAE says it may cause few symptoms until the bone and gum around it become infected.

The AAE says chipped teeth account for the majority of dental injuries.

What is cracked tooth syndrome?

Cracked tooth syndrome is the name for the symptoms a cracked tooth causes. A 2021 review in the journal Pain Research and Management lists pain on biting that worsens the harder you bite, pain with cold, and pain that comes on by itself. It notes that not every cracked tooth causes symptoms, and that some studies found the syndrome mainly in people over 40, as teeth become more brittle with age.

What are the symptoms?

The Oral Health Foundation, the AAE and the American Dental Association (ADA) list:

  • pain when biting or chewing, which the AAE says may come as you release your bite
  • sensitivity to hot or cold
  • pain that comes and goes

The AAE explains that chewing moves the cracked pieces and irritates the pulp; in time the tooth may hurt on its own or become infected. See tooth sensitivity.

Cracks are hard to find. The ADA says a crack may be invisible to the eye and even on an X-ray. The Oral Health Foundation says the crack has to line up exactly with the X-ray beam to show, so a dentist may use a bright light, a special dye or a 3D scan. See dental X-rays.

Why do teeth crack?

The Oral Health Foundation lists grinding or clenching (see teeth grinding), large fillings that weaken the tooth, biting hard foods such as ice, fruit stones, bones or hard sweets, knocks to the jaw, gum disease weakening the supporting bone, and sudden temperature changes, such as hot food followed by something cold. The ADA adds brittle teeth. healthdirect Australia says common causes of dental injury include falls, being hit in the face, sport and eating something hard.

What to do straight away

This matches our dental emergencies guide.

  • See a dentist. The NHS says do not go to a GP, who cannot give dental treatment. healthdirect says to see a dentist after an injury even if the damage looks small, because you might not see all of it.
  • Keep any broken piece in milk or saliva (NHS) or milk or sterile saline (healthdirect). The dentist may be able to glue it back on.
  • Rinse your mouth with warm water and hold a cold compress to your face to reduce swelling (ADA).
  • For bleeding, press on the area with a clean towel or dressing (healthdirect).
  • Eat soft foods (healthdirect). If breathing in or cold drinks hurt, the AAE suggests biting on clean, moist gauze or cloth.

For pain, healthdirect suggests paracetamol and says to avoid high doses of aspirin after an injury as it could increase bleeding. See toothache for who should not take which painkillers.

Gels and aspirin on the tooth

The AAE says never to put aspirin on the affected area, and the ADA says aspirin on an aching tooth or gum may burn the gum. On numbing gels the sources differ: the AAE says not to use pain-relieving mouth gels or ointments on a cracked tooth, while for toothache in general the NHS suggests a pain-relieving mouth gel from a pharmacy and healthdirect says an anaesthetic gel might be recommended for a short time. If unsure, ask your dentist or a pharmacist.

Get help urgently
  • Australia: healthdirect says call triple zero (000) or go to the emergency department after a mouth injury if you have trouble breathing, talking or swallowing, a lot of blood is going down your throat, or your mouth or tongue is very swollen. It says heavy bleeding in the mouth needs urgent care because it could block your airway.
  • If you think your jaw is broken, the ADA says go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.
  • For a knocked-out adult tooth, and UK and US emergency advice, see dental emergencies.

How is a cracked tooth treated?

The AAE says treatment depends on the type, position and extent of the crack, and the sooner it is treated, the better. Options include:

  • Smoothing and polishing very small cracks (Oral Health Foundation). Craze lines need no treatment.
  • Gluing the broken piece back (NHS) or bonding, sealing the crack or rebuilding the tooth with tooth-coloured resin (Oral Health Foundation). The AAE says most chipped teeth can be repaired this way.
  • A filling or crown. The AAE says a fractured cusp can be covered with a new filling or crown. The Oral Health Foundation says larger cracks often need a crown, a cap that covers the whole tooth and holds it together, and that a veneer may suit if enough healthy tooth is left. See crowns and veneers.
  • Root canal treatment to remove damaged pulp if the crack has reached the nerve (Oral Health Foundation, healthdirect), after which the AAE says a crown protects the crack from spreading. See fillings and root canal treatment.
  • Removing the tooth. Here the two bodies differ in emphasis. The Oral Health Foundation says removal may be needed in some cases where the crack goes deep into the root. The AAE says that once a crack extends below the gum line it is no longer treatable and the tooth will need to come out, and that a split tooth cannot be saved whole, though part of it sometimes can. See having a tooth out.

The 2021 review found that dentists vary in how they manage cracked teeth, and most recommend a full crown. Some first adjust the bite or fit a temporary band, splint or crown.

The outlook is usually good. The AAE says most treated cracked teeth give years of comfortable chewing, but some cracks keep spreading despite treatment, and a crown gives the most protection without guaranteeing success. Left untreated, it says, a cracked tooth gets worse and can eventually be lost.

When to see a dentist
  • You have chipped, cracked or broken a tooth (NHS).
  • You get pain when biting, pain that comes and goes, or sensitivity to hot or cold (Oral Health Foundation).
  • You have had a knock to the mouth. The Australian Dental Association says a loose tooth may be cracked under the gum, out of sight.
  • After an injury you develop a fever, pus, a bad taste or swollen neck glands: healthdirect says contact your dentist or doctor.

Can you prevent cracked teeth?

The AAE says cracks are not completely preventable, but you can lower the risk:

  • Do not chew ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, hard sweets or pens (AAE, ADA), and use scissors, not your teeth, to cut things (ADA).
  • If you clench or grind at night, ask your dentist about a mouthguard to wear while you sleep (AAE).
  • Wear a mouthguard for contact sports (AAE, ADA). healthdirect says one custom-made by your dentist is best. See sports mouthguards.

Frequently asked questions

Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?

No. The Oral Health Foundation and the AAE both say a crack in a tooth cannot heal. Treatment aims to relieve pain and stop the crack spreading.

My chipped tooth does not hurt. Do I still need a dentist?

Yes. The NHS says see a dentist for any chipped, cracked or broken tooth, and healthdirect says you might not see all the damage yourself.

Will I lose the tooth?

Usually not. The AAE says most treated cracked teeth work well for years, but a crack running below the gum line, or a split tooth, may mean all or part of the tooth has to come out.

Sources

  1. Chipped, broken or cracked tooth, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. Toothache, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Cracked teeth, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  4. Cracked teeth, American Association of Endodontists, accessed September 2026
  5. Dental emergencies, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  6. Top 10 dental symptoms, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  7. Dental injury, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  8. Toothache and gum swelling, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  9. Dental trauma, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  10. Review of cracked tooth syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention, Li F and others, Pain Research and Management, 2021, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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