A chipped tooth can befall any person biting a hard candy, falling, or grinding their teeth at night, and even simply wear and tear over time. It can be a bump on a back tooth or a tooth that is obviously chipped on the front side of the mouth, but one way or another, the situation is stressful and alarming. The point is that even though there are certain things you could safely do at home to alleviate discomfort and preserve the tooth until an appointment with a dentist, you cannot permanently repair a chipped tooth on your own, even with the most qualified help.
Home remedies are not permanent solutions and are only short-term measures. This guide will guide you through the simple steps to be taken immediately, safe measures to undergo to handle pain at home, when to go to the emergency, and what are the available professional chipped tooth repair measures. Knowing the difference between temporary management and permanent chipped tooth restoration should help you make an informed decision about your dental health.
What Are the First Immediate Actions to Take after Chipping a Tooth?
When you bite a tooth, be fast to prevent more damage and minimize pain. Wash your mouth using warm water in order to clean the area and get rid of tooth fragments. In case you are able to locate the broken portion of it, preserve it in milk or saliva–your dentist may be able to cement it again. Place a cold compress on your cheek close to the chipped place to decrease swelling. Apply dental wax (bought in pharmacies) or chewing gum (without sugar) to cover any sharp edges to avoid cuts to your tongue and cheeks. Use over-the-counter pain relievers. LiT Dental in McKinney, TX, offers affordable tooth chipping costs where each case is evaluated on a professional level.
What are the At-Home Remedies That Can temporarily relieve the pain of a chipped tooth?
Even though you are waiting to have your teeth fixed by the dentist, there are safe home remedies to help ease your situation with your broken teeth repair:
- Salt water rinses: Add half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and rinse the area a couple of times a day to decrease the inflammation and ensure the area is kept clean.
- Over-the-counter pain medications: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help to relieve pain and swelling. Take drugs as prescribed.
- Cold compress: Use a block of ice wrapped in a cloth on your cheek each time, not more than 15 minutes, to numb pain and swelling.
- Clove oil: This is a natural pain reliever that is applied to the part that is chipped using a cotton swab.
- Dental wax: Use to cover sharp edges to avoid tongue and cheek injuries, awaiting professional chipped tooth restoration.
How To Know When a Chipped Tooth Should Be a Dental Emergency?
The chipped teeth do not necessarily need to be attended to in emergency cases, but there are some cases where urgent treatment is needed. Get emergency chipped tooth repair when you have severe pain that does not find relief in over-the-counter medicine, a lot of bleeding that cannot be stopped in 10 minutes of pressure, a big chip that shows the inner nerve of the tooth, gum or face swelling, or a chipped front tooth that has jagged edges that cut. Moreover, in case the chip came as a result of facial trauma or you experience the symptoms of infection, such as fever or bad taste. LiT Dental McKinney, TX has an experienced staff to offer emergency care to urgent dental cases that can ensure that you are comfortable and no complications arise because of unattended dental cases.
Should you, before or after chipping a tooth, eat or drink anything?
To prevent the aggravation of your chipped tooth, you need to think well before taking food and beverages until you are given professional chipped tooth repair. Hard foods should be avoided, such as nuts, hard candy, ice, raw vegetables, and crusty bread, which may further reduce the size of the tooth. Avoid the use of sticky foods like caramel, taffy, and chewing gum, which may remove other bits. Eliminate hot or cold food and beverages, which may severely hurt vulnerable areas. You should not bite the broken tooth; instead, bite the other side. Precautions should be taken against acidic food and beverages such as citrus, soda, and vinegar, which may irritate the exposed tooth. Avoid alcohol, which will dry your mouth and aggravate worn-out places.
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Conclusion
Although temporary home care is useful for treating short-term discomfort, delaying professional treatment of chipped teeth can lead to more serious issues. Bare tooth formations can be prone to rot, additional chipping can be experienced, and pain may increase later. What one can begin as a basic fix may turn into an intricate and expensive process over time, in the case of a lack of treatment.
LiT Dental McKinney, TX, is a facility that offers specialized treatment to all kinds of tooth injuries. Our skilled staff applies the latest methods and the finest materials to revive the functionality and the appearance of the tooth so that you walk out of our office with a natural-looking, healthy smile.
