Several things can cause tooth breakage. Even healthy teeth can crack or break due to trauma, like a head injury. Other causes of tooth breakage include: Weakened tooth due to previous dental work. A cavity that weakened the tooth. Sometimes you can get a cracked wisdom tooth due to its position or how it emerges. Biting down on something hard, like ice. If you have a misaligned bite, you could be at risk for a chipped or cracked tooth.