What To Do About a Chipped or Broken Tooth

Ouch! That looks like it hurts! But handling a chipped or broken tooth doesn’t have to hurt. Half the battle  is knowing what to do. At Whitefield Dental, we are here to help you with all of your dental emergencies. So just what do you do to deal with a chipped or broken tooth?

FIRST THINGS FIRST

How you handle it depends upon how the tooth was damaged. If the damage was the result of an accident involving force, the first thing you will want to do is to make sure that there is not greater injury involved. Is an emergency room visit in order? In the case of head trauma, a person may experience a concussion or even brain damage. Make sure the person - yourself or another - is stable before proceeding.

SEE YOUR DENTIST ASAP

Depending upon the type of damage and the tooth you may not feel any pain. Still, the first thing to do is to make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible, the same day if possible. That gives them the ability to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine the appropriate course of treatment. Often, time is of the essence.

RINSE, PRESSURE...MILK?

While you’re waiting:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water
• If bleeding in your mouth, apply pressure with a wet cloth or a tea bag until the bleeding stops
• A cold compress or cloth on the outside of your chin, cheeks or jaw will reduce the swelling
• A mild pain reliever, like Ibuprofen or aspirin, will help relieve the pain
• If you lost the whole tooth out of the socket, hold on to it, and keep it from drying out!
• You’ve heard of keeping it in milk, but you can store it in bottled water, contact solution or tap water. Bring the tooth with you when you visit the dentist, as they may be able to bond it back into place. You can even keep it under your tongue, but we don’t recommend this under anything but extreme circumstances, because it’s not unusual to accidentally swallow the tooth in all the excitement!

CONTACT WHITEFIELD DENTAL

While breaking or losing a tooth can be unsettling, there’s no need to panic. Follow the instructions above and take the best care of yourself possible in the meantime. At Whitefield Dental, dental emergencies like chipped and broken teeth are our specialty. Call Whitefield Dental today at (615) 378-5899. We look forward to helping you!

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Whitefield Dental | (615) 378-5899 | 4251 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage, TN