Teeth often develop crazing on the surface as they get older. This is a natural process. As teeth age, they can start to show signs of years of wear and tear. They develop small crack-line lines on them.

These crazing lines aren't usually a dental problem; however, you might not like the way they make your teeth look. It might be a good idea to talk to a dentist about the problem. Why?

Your Dentist Can Check For Damage

While crazing lines are tiny cracks on the surface of the teeth, they aren't usually a problem. They aren't likely to get bad enough to compromise a tooth or to seriously damage it.

However, some people mix up crazed lines with more serious cracks. They have some tooth damage and ignore it because they think they just have crazing.

If you are worried about your crazing, ask your dentist to take a look at your teeth to ensure they are still in good shape. Most of the time, your dentist will tell you that you don't have a problem. If you do, then they can treat it for you before it causes more damage to the tooth or its structure.

Your Dentist Can Recommend Cosmetic Fixes

While dentists don't need to treat regular crazing, they can help you out if you don't like the way the lines look on your teeth. They might be able to recommend cosmetic treatments that make the lines less obvious or that cover them over.

People think that crazing is getting worse because the lines become more noticeable. However, this can be down to staining. These tiny cracks can pick up stains from food and drink. They can then be hard to keep clean because they are hard to reach with a toothbrush.

So, your dentist might recommend that you have a professional scale and clean treatment in their clinic. This cleaning process goes deeper than regular toothbrushing, so it should remove the stains and make the lines less obvious.

If your crazing problems are more than a scale and clean can handle, your dentist might be able to cover some of your more problematic crazing lines. For example, they can use bonding resins to fill them in. Whitening treatments can also make crazing look less obvious.

To find out more, make an appointment to see a dentist. They can check out your crazing and tell you if it is a cause for concern. They can also help you find ways to make the lines less visible.