The average human tooth is incredibly strong. Take care of your teeth and they just might last your entire life. Even though teeth are quite durable, they are still prone to breaks, cracks and chips. All sorts of forces can compromise teeth. Â Examples of such forces include mistakenly biting on something overly hard, falling on the ground and being hit in the face.
How to Proceed After Breaking Your Tooth
Move your tongue along the tooth in question. Moving your tongue along the tooth is the fastest way to determine if it is actually broken. Do not worry about this movement causing any sort of pain after the break or chip. There is a slight chance such pressure will cause pain yet this will only occur if the nerve within the tooth is damaged. If you feel any such pain, visit your dentist right away. However, if there is merely a diminutive chip, a visit with the emergency dentist might not be necessary.
While you cannot treat a broken tooth on your own, you can take some preventative actions to mitigate pain and additional damage. Chew food away from the tooth in question until you visit your dentist. If you try to chew food with the tooth and it causes pain, it is an indication the blood vessels and nerves within the tooth need treatment. Such a painful tooth will require treatment from the dentist right away.
Treat Your Broken Tooth With Care
Rinse out your mouth with some warm water to eliminate as much blood from the teeth and gums as possible. Apply a cold pack to the lips or cheek over the broken teeth to mitigate swelling and pain. If there is considerable bleeding, grab some gauze or a cloth and apply it to the area for at least 10 minutes to halt the bleeding.
Visit With the Dentist
A broken tooth beyond a slight chip should be examined by the dentist right away. The sooner you can visit the dentist, the better the chances are to save the tooth. However, if you cannot meet with the dentist right away, you should cover the broken portion of the tooth with temporary dental cement.
If you do not have dental cement in your bathroom closet, you can easily find it at a local store. The dentist will examine the tooth to determine if its nerve is susceptible to damage. If the nerve is in danger of damage, the dentist will attempt to save the tooth with a root canal. Alternatively, if the dentist determines the tooth merely has minor cracking, he or she will polish it and try to smooth the rough portions.
Fillings might suffice for chipped and cracked teeth. However, if the damage is extensive, the aforementioned root canal and a crown will likely be necessary.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Pier 210 Dental Group, request an appointment in our Auburn dental office here: https://pier210dental.com. Or call us at (530) 885-5696.
