How to Deal With a Chipped Tooth
Although we never think that it is going to happen to us, chipping a tooth is quite common. People will often chip their teeth on hard pieces of food while playing sports or in accidents. Sometimes we have surface stress and fault lines in our teeth from clenching and grinding and simply a piece of bread can be ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’. Or we ‘mysteriously’ find a piece missing in the morning due to our unbeknownst to us neuromuscular activity. Although it may seem like a catastrophe at the time, there are a number of things that people can do to deal with a chipped tooth.
Stay Calm
Immediately after chipping a tooth, it is important to stay calm. Many people will panic and get frightened after it has happened. However, there is nothing that can be done to fix the tooth immediately. What is done is done and we have to move forward. After chipping a tooth, be sure to take a few deep breaths, sit down and calm yourself.
Book an Appointment with an Oral Expert
After the panicked feeling goes away, it is important that the person contact an oral expert as quickly as possible. This will minimize the time that the person has to wait to get their tooth fixed. When booking the appointment, it is wise for the person to seek a dentist that understands the nature of the break and can help you prevent such a thing from being an ongoing occurrence. Rather than simply picking up the pieces and putting you back together again. It can be a path of ongoing chipped, broken or missing teeth and is often preventable. These oral experts will be able to make the tooth look as good as new. While they cannot give you back the original structure, they want to provide you with the next best thing.
Take Pain Medication
Although it will depend on the severity of the damage, chances are, a person’s tooth may be sensitive after they chip their tooth. This may be simply due to missing some of the protective outer or overexertion of pressure on the ligaments that surround the tooth resulting in an inflammatory response. This may also be due to exposure of the innermost layer of the tooth or the pulp. Everyone defines a ‘chip’ different. This situation may require further treatment as bacteria is very opportunistic and is often granted access into the pulp chamber in these cases possibly necessitating root canal therapy to rid bacteria from this chamber. After a person has chipped their tooth, the last thing they want to deal with is intense pain. To deal with the pain, it is wise for the person to purchase some pain relieving medication. This can help the person manage the pain while they wait for their tooth to get fixed.
Keep Your Mouth as Clean as Possible
While waiting for the appointment, many people are going to have to eat. Although eating isn’t a bad thing, it can make a chipped or damaged tooth dirty. This is especially true if the food is hard, chewy or sticky. After eating a snack or meal, it is important for a person to take a few minutes to clean their mouth. Be sure to brush and floss multiple times a day. It is also beneficial for a person to use mouthwash; this can remove debris that is stuck to the edges of the tooth. Possibly consider using a sensitive type toothpaste during this time and hold a dab on the area for it to have longer opportunity to help.
For more information about how to deal with a chipped tooth, don’t hesitate to contact the dental experts at Midtown Dental.
