Tooth chipping is a common dental problem. You can chip your tooth when you bite into something hard, fall during a game, or suffer trauma to the mouth. Even a small chip can leave you with severe pain, a distorted smile, and other dental issues. Depending on the cause, a tooth chip can be minor or severe.
Small chips in teeth cause less pain so you can wait until your next dental check-up. But major chips expose the tooth’s inner structures and thus cause considerable pain. If you experience a serious chip in your tooth, you may need an emergency dental visit. After examining your chipped tooth, your dentist will recommend treatment based on the extent of the damage.
Many chipped teeth can be repaired successfully. Modern dentistry offers treatment options that restore the function and appearance of your tooth. If you suffer from a chipped tooth, you can take the following steps to address the issue:
Stay Calm and Assess the Damage
Chipping a tooth can be an overwhelming and upsetting situation. However, if you suffer from a chipped tooth, you should not panic. Instead, you should stay calm. This helps you carefully consider the next steps. If you are at home, you can look in the mirror to determine the extent of the damage. A small chip may only affect the outer enamel. However, a larger break may expose the deeper layers of the tooth.
It would be a good idea for you to check for any bleeding inside your mouth. If the gums start bleeding, you can use a gauze pad to apply pressure. Minor bleeding after chipping a tooth usually stops in several minutes. Pain or tooth looseness is an important factor that helps the dentist determine the severity of your injury.
After assessing the damage to the affected tooth, you can check the surrounding tissues for signs of injury. In some cases, the trauma may have affected more than one tooth. If the injury happened during a fall or a sports accident, you can check for swelling around your face. For large chips that bring severe pain, you should seek emergency dental care. These signs may mean the injury is more serious than it first appears.
Taking a few minutes to examine the damage carefully will help you determine the next steps. Also, it will give your dentist useful information when you call to schedule an appointment.
Rinse Your Mouth Right Away
After you have assessed the damage, rinse your mouth with warm water. This will help clean the area and remove a small piece of the broken tooth, food, or dirt from your mouth. A broken tooth is more sensitive to extreme temperatures. You should avoid cold or hot water. Instead, use warm water and swish gently about your mouth for several seconds.
Aggressive rinsing can irritate the injured area, and if your gums are also injured, this can lead to increased bleeding. In case you have noticed some blood, you can go on rinsing until you clearly identify the source of bleeding. This way, you will know if the blood comes from your teeth, gums, or another wound in your mouth.
In addition to increasing visibility of the injury, keeping the area clean also reduces the risk of bacteria entering the damaged tooth. A chipped tooth does not always become infected. However, you must maintain good oral hygiene after an injury. After a chipped tooth, you should avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
Alcohol may cause stinging to the damaged area and will make you feel even more pain. When your mouth is already clean, avoid touching the cracked tooth with your fingers.
Save Any Broken Pieces of the Tooth
If you can find the broken piece of your tooth, you should not throw it away. Instead, you can pick it up carefully and keep it in a safe place. Sometimes, your dentist can attach the fragment during treatment. After collecting the particles, you should handle them carefully and rinse them off. When raising the enamel fragment, you should use plain water and avoid scratching it.
After rinsing the tooth, you can place the piece in a small clean container with milk or a saline solution. These liquids help keep the fragment from drying out before your appointment. If you do not have milk or saline, you can place the piece of tooth in a clean container and take it with you. Sometimes, the fragment cannot be reattached. However, it can help your dentist understand the extent of the damage.
Dentists have several ways to repair chipped teeth, even when the fragment is missing. Therefore, you should not be stressed if you cannot find the broken piece. Common treatments used to treat a chipped tooth include:
- Dental bonding
- Veneers
- Crowns
When visiting your dentist, you should carry the chipped part of the tooth with you. Bringing the broken piece with you gives the dentist one more option when planning your treatment.
Stop the Bleeding and Reduce Swelling
Bleeding after you have chipped a tooth can happen when the gums or lips are injured. If your mouth is bleeding, you should try to stop it. You can apply light pressure to the wound using clean gauze or a clean cloth. You should never touch the injured area with your bare hands. This is to ensure you do not introduce bacteria into the injured area of the mouth, which could cause infections. In case you suffer from any of the following symptoms, you need immediate dental attention:
- The bleeding continues for more than 10 to 15 minutes
- The bleeding is heavy
- Applying pressure does not stop the bleeding
Sometimes, swelling may develop after the injury. In this case, you can use a cold compress to reduce it. To use a cold compress, you should:
- Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a clean towel
- Place the ice pack against the outside of your cheek
- Leave it in place for about 15 minutes
- Remove the ice pack for another 15 minutes before using it again
You should keep your head raised if you are lying down. Raising the head helps to minimize swelling and discomfort. If you experience some pain, you can manage it using over-the-counter pain medication. You should never apply aspirin to the gums or a cracked tooth, as it may irritate the soft tissues of the mouth.
Even if the swelling subsides, it is always advisable to talk to your dentist. This is because there can be underlying damage to the tooth, which cannot be easily seen.
Protect the Tooth Until You See a Dentist
Chipping can weaken a tooth's structure. Therefore, until your dental appointment, you should protect it from further damage. If the broken edge feels sharp, you can cover it with dental wax. The wax creates a smooth surface that cannot injure the mouth tissues. If you cannot find dental wax, you can use sugar-free chewing gum. For the protection of the tooth, you need to do the following:
- Avoid using your fingers and tongue on the tooth
- Chew food from the other side of your mouth
- Brush gently around the affected tooth
- Maintain cleanliness in that area
There are also a few things you should never do. These include:
- Filing the chipped tooth yourself
- Using household glue or other adhesives to attach the broken piece
- Biting hard foods with the damaged tooth
- Ignoring the injury because it does not hurt
When you take these simple precautions, you can protect your tooth until your dentist examines it.
Watch Your Diet
If you suffer from a chipped tooth, you should be careful about the foods you eat. Over time, your tooth may become weak, painful, and sensitive. Therefore, eating the wrong foods can worsen the pain or cause further damage. You should choose soft foods for a few days to protect the tooth until you receive treatment. Good food choices after a chipped tooth include the following:
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Soup that is warm, not hot
- Smoothies
- Soft pasta
Even when eating soft food, you should chew on the opposite side of your mouth. This reduces pressure on the chipped tooth. Also, it reduces the risk of further tooth damage. There are some foods and beverages to avoid, as they can irritate or even harm your teeth. Such foods include:
- Hard candies
- Ice
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Bread
- Sticky candies
- Caramel
Moreover, very hot or very cold foods can also cause pain. If your tooth is sensitive, you can choose foods and beverages whose temperature is close to room temperature. Apart from choosing the right foods, it is also important for you to drink plenty of water. Water plays a key role in cleaning your mouth. Even if your tooth feels fine after two days, continue to be cautious until your dentist fixes it.
Know When It Is a Dental Emergency
Not every chipped tooth is an emergency. A smal, painless chip can wait a day or two for treatment. However, extensive chipping may require immediate dental care. You should contact your dentist immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Severe or worsening pain
- Heavy bleeding
- A large part of the tooth has broken off
- Tooth loosening
- A sharp crack that extends toward the gum line
- Swelling around the face or jaw
- Difficulty biting
Some injuries need urgent treatment because if the inner part of a chipped tooth is left untreated, bacteria can enter the tooth and cause an infection. Quick treatment gives the dentist the best chance of saving the tooth.
Understand How a Dentist May Repair the Tooth
After suffering a chipped tooth, you should familiarize yourself with the treatments available to restore it. Your treatment will be based on the chip's size and the area affected by the damage. Once you visit the dentist, they will conduct several tests, which include taking an X-ray of your teeth, before recommending any treatment. This treatment can include:
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a common treatment for minor chips. Your dentist will apply a tooth-colored resin to the damaged area. After applying the composite, the dentist will harden and shape it. Bonding is a quick and minimally invasive procedure.
Tooth Contouring
Sometimes, small chips may only need tooth contouring. The dentist will gently smooth out the roughness. Contouring enhances the look of the tooth. Also, it prevents irritation of the tongue.
Dental Veneers
If the chip affects a front tooth, it can affect the appearance of your smile. Under these circumstances, your dentist can recommend a veneer. A veneer is a thin shell that covers the front surface of the tooth. After suffering a chipped tooth, you may need veneers if:
- The chip is visible when you smile
- The tooth is healthy
- You want a natural-looking result
- Dental Crowns
A crown covers the entire tooth and helps restore its strength. If the chip is severe, you may need a crown. Also, it protects the remaining tooth from further damage. You may be a good candidate for a crown if a large section of the tooth is missing or the tooth is weak.
Root Canal Treatment
Sometimes the chip reaches the pulp, which contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels. If this happens, you may need a root canal to remove the damaged tissue and save the tooth. Some of the signs that you need a root canal after a tooth chip include the following:
- Severe tooth pain
- Long-lasting sensitivity
- Swelling around the tooth
- Signs of infection
- Tooth Extraction
Removing the tooth is the last option after you have chipped a tooth. When you seek immediate care, the dentist will try to save it. However, in cases of extensive damage, extraction may be necessary.
Find Reliable Dental Services Near Me
A chipped tooth may seem like a minor dental issue. However, you should not ignore it. The severity of chipping depends on the cause. Taking precautionary measures once you get injured will ease your pain and reduce the risk of complications. Once you notice a chip in your tooth, the first step is to stay calm and analyze the situation.
If you rinse your mouth, you can remove the tooth fragments and determine the point of damage. In cases where there is a broken piece, you can store it and take it with you to the dental appointment. For minor chips, you can schedule a dental visit. However, if you have significant damage, you can seek emergency dental care. After assessing your condition, your dentist can recommend treatments such as bonding, a crown, and veneers.
At Tarzana Dental Care, we offer expert dental care to our clients in Tarzana, CA. Call us at 818-708-3232 to schedule your appointment.