I Broke a Tooth. What Should I Do?
Jun 01, 2024
Breaking a tooth is a serious problem, even if it only seems like a chip or crack.
At Tropical Dental Care in Tomball, Texas, our dentists specialize in restorative dental techniques to repair broken, damaged, or missing teeth. If you chip, crack, or break off a piece of a tooth, we recommend taking these steps immediately.
First off, call our office to schedule an appointment, especially if you’ve broken off a chunk of your tooth. We provide emergency dental care for issues that require urgent attention. Plus, we can give you detailed instructions on how to proceed until your appointment.
Whether you’ve broken your tooth chewing on a piece of ice or suffered trauma to your face, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water as soon as possible. This soothes irritation and flushes away infection-causing bacteria.
A cracked or broken tooth can cause swelling or bleeding. If you have bleeding inside your mouth, apply gentle pressure to the area with gauze or a wet tea bag. We recommend pressing a cool compress to the outside area every few minutes to reduce swelling.
If you’ve broken off a part of a tooth and can retrieve it, wrap it in a wet piece of gauze and bring it to your appointment. If the broken tooth looks dirty, rinse it off with water, but don’t use other solutions to clean it. It’s also important not to scrub the tooth or remove any tissue.
Having a broken tooth can leave jagged or sharp edges in your mouth. To avoid cutting your tongue, cheek, or the inside of your lip, cover the remaining tooth with dental wax, a wet tea bag, or gauze. You should also skip chewing or flossing in the area until your dental appointment to avoid breaking off more of the tooth.
Even a tiny chip can cause intense pain. To find relief, continue flushing the inside of your mouth with warm water and apply cold compresses to your face every few minutes. You can also take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers as directed.
A chipped, cracked, or broken tooth can worsen or become infected without treatment. Our team is highly experienced in cosmetic treatments, including those for restoring broken teeth.
Whether you have damage in a visible area or on the hard surface of a molar, we can restore the strength and function of your tooth while preserving the appearance of your smile.
Common treatments for broken teeth include:
For severe breaks, we could suggest removing the remaining portion of your tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or implant. We also offer sedation dentistry services, so you don’t have to fear or worry about receiving dental care.
If you break a tooth, don’t wait to make an appointment. Call us immediately at (281) 524-3399.