Ouch My Chipped Tooth: What to Do Until You Get to the Dentist
There are many reasons why a person might break a tooth. When it happens, you typically only have moments to act. And, in some cases, there’s nothing that can be done. Here’s what you need to do if it happens to you.
How Teeth Break
Teeth are very strong, but they’re not impervious to everything. If you bite down too hard, you might chip your tooth, for example. Usually, what happens is people bite down too hard on Something, like hard candy, and then break their teeth. If you’re hit in the face, a tooth might pop right out. Falling will do it, too. Having cavities will definitely weaken the tooth structure, and may cause it to fall out. Having old, large, amalgam fillings that don’t support the remaining enamel of your teeth will naturally be weak and more prone to cracking and breakage.
When a tooth chips, or breaks, it might not immediately hurt. In fact, most of the time, it won’t. But, while minor tooth fractures usually don’t cause pain, they will eventually grow into a big problem. Bacteria can work their way into the tooth’s structure and eventually, cause plaque and tartar buildup. They may also loosen the teeth, causing them to fall out.
If this happens, you have a new problem on your hands: the bacteria may migrate to your bloodstream, causing sepsis or other problems in your body, depending on where they migrate to. Bacteria reaching the heart, for example, may cause heart disease. This is why it’s important to get to a 24 hour dentist in Philadelphia as soon as you crack or chip a tooth. Don’t let the problem become any worse than it already is. Finally, drinking or eating sugary foods is the main culprit of gingivitis, cavities, and a general wearing of enamel. This is because bacteria feed on the sugar, produce acid as a waste product, and then the acid attacks your teeth, wearing them down.
What You Can Do Right Now
There’s no way to treat a chipped or cracked tooth at home. You must go to the dentist. Sometimes, it may look OK, but only hurt when you eat or when the temperature in your mouth changes. This is not OK. If the tooth hurts all the time, it may have a damaged nerve or blood vessel. This is very serious and should be treated right away before it progresses to the disease stage.
If you have a broken tooth, or your tooth has fallen out, you should go to the Dentist in Chicago right away. Teeth that have fallen out can be put back in at home, but it’s risky. If you attempt this, you must hold the tooth by the crown, not the root. The root is the part that goes into the gum. It is very fragile and breaks easily. If it breaks, your tooth cannot be put back in by you (and sometimes, not even a dentist). You should carefully wash the root in milk or water, and get all bacteria off it.
Do not dry it with a towel or any fabric as it might damage the root. Carefully push the tooth back into the gum pocket until it stays put. If it will not stay in there, hold it in your mouth between your gum and cheek and go to the dentist. Alternatively, put it in milk and take it to the dentist.
[info_box type=”pale_box”]Judy Cook is at dentistry school and has plans to eventually become a periodontist. Until that time she continues to work hard and shares her knowledge online through her articles which appear on health and lifestyle blogs.[/info_box]
Thanks for sharing the tips. Teeth strong is very important our life.
Very good advice – it’s also worth noting that many dental practices have special emergency opening hours and services and as you say it’s always best to go as soon as possible to avoid further problems.
You make an excellent point about the dangers of a chipped tooth. While pain may not be felt initially, if the area becomes infected, it can still be a significant issue.