To relieve pain and swelling, put ice or a cold cloth on the tooth's gum or cheek area, or suck on a piece of ice. But if the tooth's nerve or pulp is exposed, avoid putting anything too hot or cold near the tooth until you see your dentist.
Protecting Your Mouth until You Reach the Dentist
Teeth with tiny chips or a jagged edge can slice your tongue or damage your mouth. An application of dental wax over the edges is suggested. However, if you have a large chip or a portion of the tooth missing dental wax is not recommended.
See a dentist if you or your child has:
If a piece of tooth has broken off, put it in milk or saliva (by spitting into a container if it's your tooth, or having your child spit into a container if it's theirs) and take it to a dentist. The dentist may be able to glue the piece of tooth back on. Do not go to a GP.
Patients who have a severely broken tooth are advised to see a dentist within a day of the injury occurring. If that is not possible, the patient should use dental cement to cover up the broken tooth while waiting for an appointment.
You can still brush a broken tooth, but you should be gentle and very careful while doing so. Brushing too hard could cause pain or further damage to the tooth, especially if the nerves on the inside of the tooth are exposed. Flossing around a damaged tooth may help to reduce pain or pressure on the broken tooth.
A broken tooth shouldn't be left untreated. Even if a broken tooth doesn't hurt or isn't bothering you, it can put you at risk for other more serious issues if not corrected quickly. One of the most bothersome risks of leaving a broken tooth alone is having food get stuck inside, which can cause acute infections.
Warm salt-water rinse. Rinse mouth using this solution greatly helps in bacterial removal from the affected site. If your tooth is cracked/chipped or broken from a side, take painkillers like paracetamol for pain relief. Avoid eating from that side and consume soft foods having neutral temperature.
A dental restoration is used to replace or rebuild missing or damaged teeth. Popular restorations used in dentistry include crowns, fillings, composite resin, implants, dentures and bridges.
If a molar is only half-broken, it can usually be fixed in one of two ways. If the break is relatively minor and the edges are still intact, your dentist may be able to bond the broken pieces back together. If the damage is more severe, they may need to use a dental crown or filling material to cover the break.
An untreated broken or chipped tooth can lead to an infection if the tooth's pulp is exposed. The pulp is part of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves, and tissues that keep the tooth alive. When bacteria enter the tooth and infect the pulp, the tooth's tissue can die.
Your teeth are exposed to acidic foods and drinks every day, and over time our enamel naturally breaks down as a result. Essentially, the older we get, the more likely we are to experience a chipped tooth because our enamel simply isn't as strong anymore.
Avoid eating or drinking anything. If you aren't able to make a dental appointment in time, eat soft foods such as apple sauce or mashed potatoes, and avoid very hot and cold food and beverages as your tooth will be sensitive.
Damaged teeth are teeth that are severely broken or cracked, and the dentist will choose to extract them. The dentist will often put dentures in place of the damaged teeth.
Treatment for a broken or chipped tooth will depend on how severely it is damaged. If only a small piece of enamel broke off, the repair can usually be done simply in one office visit. A badly damaged or broken tooth may require a more lengthy and costly procedure.
A fractured tooth, often called a cracked tooth or cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), is when a crack appears in your tooth. The crack can sometimes be small and harmless. Other times, it can cause your tooth to break or split. Tooth fractures are most common in children and older people, although anybody can crack a tooth.
Milk contains certain substances that help the tooth stay “alive,” including sugars that the cells need to survive, proteins to maintain the right balance of acids, and antibacterial agents. Above all, keeping the tooth moist is crucial.
If your tooth cracked in half, calling your dentist's office immediately to schedule an appointment is optimal. Ignoring a broken tooth is not suggested because your condition could worsen, and the tooth can become infected. The infection might begin in the dental pulp and spread to the gums besides your jawbone.
A cracked tooth is a perfect nesting ground for bacteria. If left untreated, a buildup of bacteria increases the risk of infection or abscess. An abscess is an infection that develops deep inside the tooth. Often, an abscess results in the tooth creating pus, swelling, and a severe toothache.
If only a small piece of your tooth broke off, your dental professional might be able to protect the remainder of the tooth with a crown or filling. If the fracture is severe, endodontic surgery may be required to remove the fractured portion to protect the pulp and the tooth.
Don't Eat or Drink Unless Necessary
But if at all possible, you should at least avoid solid foods, sugary or acidic foods and beverages, and anything that's hot or cold. These types of foods are more likely to increase the pain. Any pressure on the damaged tooth can also worsen breakage.
Between the ages of about 6 and 7 years, the primary teeth start to shed and the permanent teeth begin to come through. By the age of about 21 years, the average person has 32 permanent teeth – 16 in the upper jaw and 16 in the lower jaw.
Brittle teeth can result from genetic factors, periodontal disease, osteoporosis, renal disease, and certain medications. Multiple factors like acidic/sugary diets, poor nutrition, dental procedures, and personal habits can contribute to weakened teeth.
Teeth ultimately turn yellow as you get older, when enamel wears away from chewing and exposure to acids from food and drink. Most teeth turn yellow as this enamel thins with age, but some take on a greyish shade when mixed with a lasting food stain.