What Should I Do About My Chipped Tooth?
Chipped teeth are a pretty common occurrence in both adults and children and can be caused by a whole variety of things. It’s easy to chip a tooth in an accident or fall, or because of impact when playing contact sports. Teeth can also chip if you bite into something unusually hard, like candy or ice, or if you habitually chew non-food items like pens or use your teeth to open packages or bottles. When the teeth are weakened by tooth decay or poor nutrition, they are more prone to fracture, and people who chronically clench or grind their teeth are more prone to chipping or breaking them. Regardless of the cause of your chipped tooth, your dentist will be able to offer a solution that can restore the integrity and appearance of the dentition and prevent complications, like infection or greater tooth damage, from occurring.
In many cases, a chipped tooth isn’t a medical emergency, though it’s important not to leave a chipped tooth unaddressed for too long. Even if the tooth doesn’t need to be repaired, your dentist will monitor the tooth and make sure it’s not posing any greater risks. Ignoring a tooth fracture could lead to damaged enamel, sensitivity or pain, or even an infection inside the tooth.
If the fracture or chip is sizable and a nerve is exposed, you might be experiencing enough pain or discomfort that you’ll want to seek attention from a professional. If you’re not in pain, you should still seek dental attention to prevent complications from arising. In addition to the obvious cosmetic concerns that can spring up when a tooth chips, some of these complications include sensitivity or pain in the tooth, damage to the enamel, abscess or infection, and even tooth loss.
Larger chips and fractures pose the greatest risk of developing into more serious issues, and they also tend to hurt more. Prompt attention can reduce this discomfort and prevent serious issues from arising. If left unattended, these larger fractures can easily lead to more damage, as the weakened tooth is more susceptible to additional breakage, and it becomes less likely that the tooth can be saved.
For more significant dental fractures, there are some things you can do at home to lessen your discomfort and protect the tooth and the rest of the oral cavity while you wait to see your dentist. Rinsing your mouth with warm water can help keep irritants away from the tooth and reduce pain and discomfort. If the area is bleeding, rinse away the blood and gently apply pressure, using gauze, to the area. As bleeding continues, rinse and reapply new gauze until the bleeding has stopped. To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress or ice pack to the area of the face adjacent to the damaged tooth. Over-the-counter pain medication can also help reduce discomfort and swelling, though aspirin should be avoided if bleeding continues. Protect the tooth and the soft oral tissues with dental wax or cement, if you have it, or use sugarless chewing gum to cover over rough areas and prevent them from injuring your tongue or cheeks. If you have the piece of tooth that broke off, preserve this piece in milk or saliva so it doesn’t dry out, and take it to the dentist with you when you go in for treatment. If you can’t salvage the piece of tooth, that’s okay; your dentist will offer other treatment options.
If you have a chipped tooth, reach out to discuss dental bonding and other repair options.