Cracked Tooth Pain Guide: Why It Hurts on Biting and on Release, and What to Do

Pain from a cracked tooth is typically a sudden sharp twinge on biting that soon disappears when the force is released. Hurting on biting is similar to gum inflammation, but the cause here is stimulation of the nerve inside the tooth. When the crack runs vertically deep toward the root it is hard to save and the tooth is usually extracted, so it is best to have it checked early.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Pain pattern	Sharp pain on biting that fades quickly when force is released; sometimes rebound pain that is worse on release (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal)
Cause of pain	Stimulation of the pulp (nerve); different in cause from periodontitis, which also hurts on biting (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
Treatment of vertical fracture	Usually extraction; the method of sealing with adhesive restoration and then placing a crown has a low success rate (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
Preventive habits	Correct one-sided chewing, do not chew ice, pens or nails, use a night guard for grinding (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)
Relation to sensitivity	A cracked tooth is one of the causes of sensitive teeth (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) National Health Information Portal)

How does a cracked tooth hurt?

The KDCA National Health Information Portal explains that the pain of a cracked tooth appears mainly as sharp pain on biting and disappears quickly when force is released. It is characteristic that sometimes there is rebound pain that hurts more on release than at the moment of biting.

It is easy to overlook because it does not always hurt; it twinges only when you chew at a certain angle or bite hard food. If you repeatedly have sudden pain that startles you while chewing tough food and then soon feels fine, a cracked tooth can be suspected.

The KDCA also lists tooth cracks as one of the causes of sensitive teeth. If sensitivity to cold appears in the same tooth along with pain on biting, mention it at the visit.

How can it be told apart from periodontitis pain?

Acute periodontitis around the root tip is also similar to a cracked tooth in that pain worsens on biting. However, with periodontitis there is moderate or greater pain even at rest, it hurts just when the teeth touch, and there is often a feeling that the tooth is raised.

A cracked tooth differs in that it is a brief pain that is sharp only at the moment force is applied and soon disappears when force is released. The KDCA explains that both pains appear on biting, but a cracked tooth differs in that the cause is stimulation of the pulp.

It is hard to distinguish by yourself, so the dentist has you bite on parts of the tooth one at a time or taps it, and also checks the response to cold stimulation and X-rays. The judgment is made by combining several test results rather than a single test.

How is a cracked tooth treated?

Treatment depends on the direction and depth of the crack and the state of the nerve, so it is decided after seeing the test results. If damage has spread to the nerve and recovery is difficult, root canal treatment may be needed. The KDCA describes cases in which the nerve is irreversibly infected because of tooth fracture as targets for root canal treatment.

A vertically fractured tooth is usually extracted. There is also a method of sealing the crack with an adhesive restorative and then placing a crown, but the KDCA explains that the success rate is not high. After extraction, discuss with the dentist how to fill the gap.

A molar that has had root canal treatment has been cut a lot and can break easily, so a crown is often placed to prevent fracture.

If you keep chewing on a cracked tooth, the crack can get deeper. The earlier it is found, the more options there are for keeping the tooth, so not dismissing a twinge on biting decides the outcome of treatment.

How can I keep teeth from cracking?

The KDCA gives the following as ways to prevent and manage cracked teeth. If you already have a cracked tooth, changing the same habits also helps prevent the crack from getting deeper.

If it is hard to know yourself whether you grind your teeth while sleeping, ask family members you live with, or check whether your jaw is stiff in the morning, and tell the dentist at the visit.

For both pulpitis and cracked tooth care, the KDCA advises using a night guard if grinding is severe. Whether to have a guard made is decided by the dentist from the condition of the teeth and the degree of grinding, so describe your habits concretely at the consultation.

Correct the habit of chewing on only one side.
Do not chew or bite hard things such as ice, pens and nails.
Reduce grinding and clenching, and use a night guard if needed.

When should I go to the dentist?

If a sharp twinge on biting has recurred even once, it is good to be examined even after the pain has gone. A crack does not join on its own, and if chewing force keeps being applied it can get deeper.

If it has begun to hurt even at rest, or you wake at night with pain, it may have progressed to nerve inflammation. If the gum swells, pus appears or a fever develops, do not delay any longer; be examined right away. Until then, do not chew on that side.

Common myths and facts

Myth: A cracked tooth joins on its own over time.

The crack in a tooth does not join by itself and can deepen with repeated chewing force, so dental care is needed.

Myth: If it only hurts briefly when I chew, it is nothing.

Pain that is sharp on biting and disappears on release is the typical feature of a cracked tooth. A vertically deepened crack usually leads to extraction, so have it checked early.

Frequently asked questions

I do not know which tooth is cracked.

Pain from a cracked tooth occurs only when chewing on a certain part, so the location can be hard to point out. The dentist has you bite on teeth one at a time or taps them, and combines the response to cold stimulation with X-rays to find the causative tooth.

Can a cracked tooth be saved by root canal treatment?

It depends on the direction and depth of the crack. If the nerve is irreversibly damaged, root canal treatment is done and the tooth may be protected with a crown, but a tooth fractured vertically down to the root is usually extracted.

Can a filled tooth or a root-canal-treated tooth also crack?

The KDCA explains that a tooth that has had root canal treatment has been cut a lot to reach the pulp chamber and can break easily. So teeth that bear much force, such as molars, often get a crown to prevent fracture.

Can I take a painkiller for a cracked tooth?

The pain is often brief and occurs only on biting, so not chewing on that tooth is more effective than a painkiller. If pain continues, use a painkiller as directed, but do not delay a dental visit to treat the cause.

I think a front tooth cracked from a collision.

If a front tooth cracked or broke from trauma, the nerve or root may be injured even if it looks fine outside. If there is a broken piece, keep it and go to the dentist as soon as possible, and for a while after the injury watch for changes in tooth color or pain.

References

Korean version →