It happens more often than you think – you’re crunching away on a something and notice something unusual in your mouth. While the enamel that covers your teeth is extremely tough, it can get weak overtime, causing a tooth to chip. This is also common if your tooth already has some decay, you experience a blow to the face, or you are biting down on something really hard.
While chipping a tooth is common, it is still quite alarming when it happens. If you chip a tooth, here are the steps we recommend you follow.
What to do after you chip the tooth
According to the American Dental Association, the first thing you should do after chipping a tooth is rinse your mouth out with warm water to clean it. Next, apply pressure to stop the bleeding, if any, and place a cold compress to your mouth to prevent swelling.
Chipping a tooth can be extremely painful, so we recommend taking some over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce the pain, if necessary. Make sure to take the recommended dosage labeled on the bottle.
Next, if your tooth has any jagged edges that might hurt the inside of your mouth, feel free to purchase some dental wax at the store to keep it from slicing the inside of your mouth. However, if a large portion of your tooth is missing, please skip this step as you could accidentally cause more damage by breaking off more of the tooth.
How to repair
If the damage to your tooth is slight and barely noticeable, the dentist may perform what is called cosmetic contouring, where he or she will polish the surface of the tooth to remove any jagged edges. He or she might also use dental bonding to fill in gaps.
Fortunately, most chipped tooth repairs can be done in a single visit!
Chipping a tooth, although common, can be quite painful and scary. Our office of dental professionals is here to help make the process easier and as pain-free as possible for you. Contact us today for more information.
