Although your teeth are extremely strong, it’s still possible to break or chip one of them. Just biting down on something hard can chip a tooth. Falling or being hit in the mouth can seriously damage your mouth, including breaking your teeth. Small breaks or chips may not hurt, but larger breaks to the teeth may cause the nerve to be damaged or exposed to air, which is very painful. Even if you don’t have pain, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible.
What to Do Until You Can Get Into the Dentist
A chipped or broken tooth can cut your mouth. If it has a sharp edge, you can cover it with a piece of wax paraffin or chewing gum to protect your tongue, lips, and cheeks. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with the pain if you need to. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help prevent infection. Eat soft foods if it hurts to chew. An ice pack reduces pain and relieves swelling. If the area is bleeding, use a gauze pad to put pressure on the site.
If you knocked out the tooth entirely, don’t rinse it with water or alcohol. Use milk or a saline solution to clean it and try to put it back in the socket. If you can’t put it back, store it in milk or inside your mouth near your cheek. You can also do this with a piece of the tooth that chipped or broke off. Get to the dentist immediately so that they can attempt to save the tooth.
How Your Dentist Will Treat Your Tooth
The amount of damage to your tooth and how it is broken will determine the course of action your dentist will take to repair it. As some treatments are much more expensive than others, your insurance coverage and budget may play a part in determining your treatment. Here are some of the most common methods of repairing chips and breaks.
A small chip can often be fixed with a process called bonding. This is where the dentist uses a tooth-colored composite resin that is adhered to your tooth, shaped to match it, and hardened with an ultraviolet light. The procedure can often be done in one visit. Typically, the tooth does not need to be numbed for this procedure.
Larger breaks or cracks may require a root canal before the dentist can apply a cap or crown. A crown adds protection to your tooth, but this procedure takes at least two visits. Crowns are made from different materials, such as metal, porcelain, and ceramic. Your dentist will discuss the benefits of each.
Preventing Cracks and Breaks
You can take steps to prevent many types of damage to your teeth. Don’t chew on hard items, like unpopped popcorn kernels or ice. Use a night guard to prevent grinding your teeth. If you clench your teeth, you need to stop; learning better stress management techniques will help you quit this habit. When playing sports, use a mouthguard and/or protective mask. Take care of your teeth and they will last a long time—with any luck, they’ll last a lifetime.
