A chipped or broken tooth can be a painful or even dangerous problem. A chip or break in your tooth enamel can leave your tooth vulnerable to dental infection and dental decay.
You can avoid this problem by taking care of your tooth and seeing the dentist as soon as possible. If you’ve injured your tooth, the steps you take to solve the problem can make all the difference. Here’s what you need to know.
Self-Care Steps
When you’ve chipped or broken a tooth, you may be in pain. The following self-care tips can help.
- Disinfect the area. This may surprise you, but salt water has disinfecting properties that can protect your teeth. To create the saltwater mixture, mix one teaspoon of salt water into one cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth with salt water to prevent infection and soothe pain.
- Take pain medication if needed. Use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen if your injured tooth hurts. Take the recommended dosage indicated on the bottle of medicine.
- Protect your mouth from bites and scratches. Cover any sharp edges on your broken tooth with paraffin wax or sugarless gum to prevent injury. If you have dental wax in your home, you can use this as well.
- Take care when eating. Avoid eating hard foods until you’ve been to the dentist, and chew with caution on the unaffected side.
Available Treatments
There are many ways your dentist can help you fix your broken tooth. Some available treatments include:
- Dental Filling/Bonding: Used for small enamel chips, dental bonding is made from a composite resin that attaches easily to tooth enamel. Dental bonding or filling can restore your tooth’s appearance and protect your tooth from further damage.
- Dental Crown: A dental crown is a cap that your dentist places over the tooth enamel. Dental crowns are recommended for larger breaks or severely decayed teeth as they cover and protect the tooth.
- Dental Veneers: A dental veneer is a thin tooth-shaped shell that can be installed over the front of the tooth. Dental veneers improve the appearance of a chipped tooth by hiding the chip underneath the veneer.
- Root Canal Therapy: If the pulp is exposed or becomes infected, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy followed by crown placement. During the root canal, the dentist will remove the infected pulp and clean out the tooth. The remaining tooth enamel is covered with the crown to prevent it from deteriorating further.
- Reimplantation: If the entire tooth is knocked out, reimplantation can be performed if the tooth is stored correctly. Reimplantation only works if you can get to the dentist within about half an hour of losing the tooth, so don’t delay.
Emergency Handling Tips
If you’re handling a knocked-out permanent tooth or a chip in your tooth, follow these tips to avoid damaging your tooth or the chip.
- Collect tooth fragments carefully. Touch only the crown, and avoid touching the root.
- Rinse debris from the tooth gently with lukewarm water. Do not scrub.
- Store your knocked-out tooth in milk or between your cheek and gum to prevent drying.
- Seek immediate dental care for knocked-out teeth (ideally within 30 minutes). Do the same if your tooth is suffering a break.
Want to know more about how to handle your broken or knocked-out tooth in Tampa, Florida? Contact Weninger Dentistry to learn more. We’re here to help.