The Hidden Dangers of Ignoring a Damaged Tooth

We’ve all been there. You bite down on a piece of hard candy or a popcorn kernel, and suddenly, you feel a distinct crunch that isn’t the food. Or perhaps you notice a dull ache in a molar that comes and goes, so you decide to take a “wait and see” approach. It’s easy to dismiss a small chip, a hairline crack, or mild sensitivity as a minor inconvenience. After all, life is busy, and fitting a dental appointment into a packed schedule often feels impossible.

The first sign that something is wrong is usually pain, but the type of pain tells a story about the depth of the damage.

Your teeth are composed of layers. The outer white layer is enamel, which serves as a shield. Beneath that lies the dentin, a yellow, porous substance containing microscopic tubes that lead directly to the nerve. When a tooth is chipped or cracked, that protective enamel barrier is breached.

This exposure leaves the dentin vulnerable to external stimuli. You might experience a sharp, jolting pain when you sip hot coffee or eat ice cream. Even breathing in cold air can trigger a reaction. This is “dentin hypersensitivity.”

Beyond temperature sensitivity, the physical structure of a damaged tooth can cause mechanical injury. A jagged edge from a chip can repeatedly cut your tongue or the inside of your cheek, creating painful ulcers that make speaking and chewing difficult. While you might learn to chew on the other side of your mouth to avoid the discomfort, this uneven chewing pressure can lead to jaw strain and headaches over time.

If you ignore the initial sensitivity, the crack or decay will eventually deepen. Once the damage breaches the dentin and reaches the pulp—the innermost part of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels—the situation becomes critical.

The pulp chamber is a sterile environment. When a crack opens a pathway, bacteria from your mouth invade this space. This bacterial invasion causes the pulp to become inflamed and eventually die. As the infection takes hold, it has nowhere to go but down.

This process often results in a dental abscess, a pocket of pus that forms at the tip of the tooth root in the jawbone. An abscess is not a subtle condition. It is typically accompanied by:

• Severe, throbbing pain that can radiate to the jaw, neck, or ear.
• Swelling in the face or cheek.
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw.
• A fever.
• A foul taste in your mouth from draining pus.

At this stage, the tooth is actively dying, and the infection is rampant. It is no longer a matter of “saving the tooth” with a simple filling; you are now looking at a root canal or extraction to stop the infection from spreading to your jawbone or surrounding spaces in the neck and head.

Let’s say the pain is manageable, or the nerve dies quietly without a massive abscess. Does that mean you’re in the clear? Unfortunately, no. A damaged tooth acts as a reservoir for bacteria, contributing to a host of long-term dental issues.

Rough surfaces on broken teeth are magnets for plaque and tartar. It becomes incredibly difficult to clean these areas effectively with a toothbrush or floss. As bacteria accumulate, they irritate the gums, leading to gingivitis. If left unchecked, this progresses to periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth.

Teeth rely on each other for support. When a tooth is broken and untreated, it loses its structural integrity. The force of daily chewing—which can be up to 70 pounds per square inch—can cause the tooth to split completely. At that point, there is often not enough healthy structure left to restore, and the tooth must be extracted.

Losing a tooth creates a gap. Over time, the surrounding teeth will drift into this space, leading to misalignment. This shift can alter your bite, potentially causing Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders, which are characterized by chronic jaw pain, clicking sounds, and lockjaw.

The most alarming aspect of ignoring a damaged tooth is the “oral-systemic connection.” Modern medicine increasingly recognizes that oral health is a window to your overall health. The bacteria breeding in a damaged, infected tooth do not always stay in the mouth. They can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, contributing to serious systemic conditions.

Several studies suggest a link between gum disease/dental infections and heart disease. The theory is that inflammation in the mouth causes inflammation in the blood vessels, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, bacteria from an oral infection can attach to damaged areas of the heart, causing endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves.

The relationship between diabetes and gum disease is a two-way street. People with diabetes are more susceptible to infections, including gum disease. Conversely, severe gum disease and dental infections can make it harder to control blood sugar levels. Ignoring a damaged tooth that leads to infection can actively work against your efforts to manage diabetes.

We inhale tiny droplets from our mouths into our lungs constantly. If your mouth is teeming with unhealthy bacteria due to untreated decay or damage, you may breathe these bacteria into your lungs. This can increase the risk of respiratory infections, including pneumonia, particularly in older adults or those with compromised immune systems.

The grim progression from a chip to a systemic health risk is entirely preventable. Dentistry has evolved significantly, offering treatments that are faster, less painful, and more effective than ever before.

The best treatment is prevention. Maintaining a strong oral hygiene routine—brushing twice a day and flossing daily—keeps enamel strong. If you play sports, wearing a mouthguard is non-negotiable. If you grind your teeth at night (bruxism), a night guard can help prevent fracturing your teeth while you sleep.

If damage does occur, the treatment depends on severity:

• Dental Bonding: For minor chips, a tooth-colored resin can be applied and hardened with a special light to restore the shape.
• Veneers: For cosmetic cracks on front teeth, porcelain covers can provide a uniform look.
• Root Canal Therapy: If the pulp is infected, this procedure removes the nerve and seals the tooth, saving it from extraction.

For more significant damage, a dental crown (a cap that covers the tooth) is often necessary. Historically, this required two visits: one to take messy impressions and place a temporary crown, and a second visit weeks later to place the permanent one.

Today, technology has removed the waiting game. Many dental offices, such as those in Eagle River, now offer same-day crowns using CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) technology. Your dentist can take a digital scan of your mouth and mill a custom ceramic crown right in the office while you wait. This eliminates the need for temporary crowns and multiple appointments, meaning you can fix a damaged tooth in a single afternoon.

Your teeth are strong but not invincible. Ignoring dental damage can lead to severe pain, tooth loss, and bigger health issues. Acting early is always less costly—financially and physically—than waiting for an emergency. If you have a bothersome tooth or a chip you’ve been ignoring, take this as your sign to act now and prevent future complications.