Tooth trauma can occur at the most inopportune times. This may cause immediate pain or lead to greater problems if not addressed in a timely manner. If you find yourself with a broken or chipped tooth, there are a few things you should do to restore your oral health.

What should I do?

1. Call for an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible. Depending on how significantly the tooth has broken, nerve pain could begin or an infection may develop. The break could also become worse. An experienced dentist can assess the degree of the break and provide you with options to restore your tooth.
2. While waiting for your dental appointment, it’s a good idea to rinse with salt water. This can help clean the area and ward off dental bacteria that could cause an infection to develop.
3. If the chipped tooth is causing pain, you can take acetaminophen to help alleviate the discomfort.
4. If your tooth now has a sharp edge, you can cover it with paraffin wax or chewing gum to help prevent it from rubbing against your cheek.

Repairing a damaged tooth

Your dentist has a few options when restoring a tooth that has been cracked or broken. If the tooth has a small crack, the dentist may choose to repair with a filling. For a front tooth, a bonding or a dental veneer may be cemented to the tooth and will harden to act as a beautiful cover for the tooth.

If a substantial amount of the tooth has been broken or has a lot of tooth decay, the dentist may recommend a crown. For this procedure, a root canal is often performed before the dentist can fit a realistic crown on top of the existing tooth.

If a tooth has been knocked out, you should notify a dentist immediately. Oftentimes, these can be reimplanted if action is taken quickly. Try to get to a dentist as quickly as possibly, being careful not to touch the root. If the tooth cannot be saved, a denture or dental implant can be made to fill the space from the missing tooth.

Chip Prevention

Although some chips are unavoidable when a severe hit happens, stronger teeth will be more resilient when faced with a potential trauma situation. By keeping your teeth as healthy as possible, you can help prevent chips and breaks from occurring in the first place. At Dental Remedies, we recommend:

• Brushing for at least two minutes twice a day
• Flossing every day
• Visiting the dentist every six months for regular cleanings and exams
• Avoiding foods that contribute to tooth decay such as sugary treats, coffee, wine and other abrasive options

Chipped teeth are more than cosmetic insecurities. If not treated, they can lead to oral pain or larger problems in the future. If you have broken or chipped teeth, Dental remedies can help restore your smile. Give us a call today for a consultation so our experienced dental team can put together a treatment plan that is right for you.