Did you know that your enamel is still vulnerable to breaking and chipping even though it is the toughest tissue in your body? If you have a broken tooth, it is necessary to know how to restore your smile to its original glory.
There are various ways to care for a broken tooth, so you never need to worry if you have the best dentist on speed dial to look after you. Here is everything you need to know about broken tooth repair to avoid pain and discomfort.
Why Fix a Broken Tooth?
Whether you broke your tooth or have a cracked tooth, the pain will be beyond memorable. Unless there is a minor chip, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible for broken tooth repair to get the problem sorted permanently.
Otherwise, depending on the pain level, you may find it impossible to eat, drink, sleep, talk, or even exist. This is because our teeth are sensitive, especially under the enamel.
A dentist must examine the condition of your tooth to identify and rectify the type of injury. Not going to a dentist is a risk because you may cause more damage to your chipped or broken tooth if you continue your daily routine without getting a checkup.
What Are The Necessary Steps to Take?
If you chip or break a tooth, the first thing you must do is rinse your mouth with some warm water. This is the best way to clean the injury gently without hurting yourself further.
If there is some bleeding, you should apply gentle pressure to stop it. This can be done using a cold compress on the broken tooth area to help reduce the swelling.
Otherwise, you may wake up with a swollen jaw that might scare the kids. Like losing a finger, it also helps to find your broken tooth. If you are a Where’s Waldo enthusiast, this should be easy.
When you locate your broken tooth, it is best to wrap it using wet gauze. Then you can safely transport it for your dentist to take a look.
There are times when people cannot go to the dentist right away. If your tooth has popped out of your mouth, a gauze pad can help you grab it by the crown to stick it back into your socket.
Remember to rinse the broken tooth with clean water before popping it back into the mouth to avoid a foul taste. Avoid cleaning or scrubbing it with anything other than water.
If the tooth cannot be placed in the socket, you should store it in water or a saline solution. This will help buy you time until you can arrange an emergency appointment with your dentist.
None of these are permanent solutions, so it is critical to call your dentist as soon as the incident happens to ensure they can help as quickly as possible.
Dealing With Chipped Teeth
Even though no one should ever lose their teeth, it is always better to chip one than break one. If you have a chipped tooth, you are in luck because this is not so severe.
Until you can see your dentist, you must flush your mouth on the inside with warm water. Then use cold compresses around the outside of the injury to reduce swelling.
There are anti-inflammatories and painkillers that you can buy over the counter. However, always be careful of the dosage to protect your health.
Alternatively, some clove oil can also provide a lot of relief because it has a numbing agent that acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Even though chipped teeth are not always a crisis where you need to rush to the dentist as though your life depends on them, you should still book an appointment.
Otherwise, you may struggle to eat or drink. Stepping out on a cold and windy day may also seem more torturous than usual because your nerves might be exposed.
Protecting Your Mouth
Most people typically get a small chip if they have a minor accident. You can apply dental wax around the edge to prevent the chipped tooth from slicing your tongue or mouth.
However, if you have a giant chunk missing, you must go to the dentist instead of trying to floss some wax on yourself. Otherwise, you risk breaking the tooth further and injuring your mouth.
Many stores have temporary dental kits with wax that you can buy. It would help if you also stopped chewing on the side of your mouth where the damaged tooth is. Always floss around the tooth to avoid more pain and irritation woes.
When to See Your Dentist?
Some cracks might not be visible. This is because many of them hide under your gums or inside the tooth, where you can barely tell they are there. If no nerves are exposed, you may not experience any symptoms from the chip or crack.
You may often brush it off, thinking it is a cavity or a sensitivity issue. This does not require extensive treatment, but you should still visit your dentist to ensure everything is okay before problems worsen.
The most common teeth that can break are usually the upper jaw molars. This is because they have pointy cusps that grind into your molars’ grooves.
Depending on the severity of the break or chip, you should be careful to prevent further injuries.
Otherwise, you risk a deep crack that can go through the center to your root and the pulp chamber with all your connective tissues and blood vessels.
Contact Your Dentist Today
Now that you know how to handle a broken tooth, it is time to find the best dentist in your area to be ready for anything. Remember that no home remedies are effective enough to treat deep cracks or broken teeth.
A cracked tooth can also cut through your soft tissues thanks to sharp edges, and the pain will be unbearable. Contact us today and we can help restore your smile and confidence in no time.