What Should I Do About My Chipped Tooth?
Chipped teeth are sadly a common and frequent occurrence, for both adults and children, and they can occur easily. It simply requires just some small contact, at the wrong angle, and even some bad luck for anyone to chip a tooth.
Some Common Causes of a Chipped Tooth
- Taking an unfortunate fall and hitting your mouth.
- Your tooth weakened because of a cavity.
- Biting down on a hard object.
- Trauma from an accident.
- An injury from a sports-related event.
- Your poor nutrition and diet.
- The grinding or clenching of your teeth, called bruxism.
Another remarkable thing is that since they are so common, there have been improvements and advancements in treatment options. A chipped tooth can be repaired now such that it is next to impossible to tell if a chip ever existed.
What to Do If You Chipped a Tooth
Chipping a tooth can sometimes be a painful occurrence. If you have just chipped a tooth and do not know what to do, here are a few ideas.
If you just chipped a tooth, here are the first things to consider:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water. This small effort can help you rinse harmful irritants from the area around the tooth, remove any blood if present, and soothe any pain. Use warm water and not hot, because you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Stop any bleeding by using a clean gauze and gently applying pressure to the tooth. Rinse and place a new gauze if needed.
- Reduce any swelling. Position an ice pack or cold compress on your cheek in the area where the tooth is chipped.
- Relieve the pain by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. If bleeding is still a problem, avoid aspirin or other pain relievers that will cause blood thinning.
- Protect the tooth. The part that remains in the socket needs to be protected from any further damage or injury. You can use sugarless chewing gum or dental cement, if available, to protect the damaged tooth until you can see your dentist.
- Shield both your tongue and cheeks. A chipped tooth can leave jagged edges that can cut your tongue or cheeks. Apply some dental wax, if available, to the edges of the chip to smooth it out until you see your dentist. If dental wax is not available, you can cover the jagged edge with sugarless chewing gum.
- If you can, preserve the chip. According to research, you should save the chip because the chip can be successfully reattached to the tooth. Preserve the chip with saliva or a glass of milk to keep it from drying out.
Visit your dentist as soon as possible. Ideally, it would be best to visit the dentist within a few hours of the incident. Call your dental office, describe to them the extent of the damage and your current situation, and they will give you guidance and advice regarding your options and how soon you may need to be treated. A chipped tooth can easily worsen over time. Prompt attention from your dentist will prevent further damage and save you from unnecessary consequences.
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