Although brushing and flossing twice daily can help strengthen your enamel to avoid damage and decay, there’s unfortunately no guarantee that you’ll never have a dental emergency. For instance, you might bite into something too hard or sustain a blow to the face that chips or breaks a tooth.
Acting quickly can potentially help save your smile, but many patients are unsure what steps to take to get the right help in such urgent circumstances. Continue reading to learn about 4 steps to take to handle a broken tooth!
Step #1: Find the Tooth and Its Pieces
Depending on what happened and the condition of the broken tooth, there’s a chance your dentist repurpose the damaged pieces. Try to find any larger sections of missing enamel, but keep in mind that they might still be in your mouth and you don’t want to swallow them. Then, you can rinse them under gently running water to remove and dirt and debris, and store them in a small bag or airtight container to bring with you to your dentist’s office.
Step #2: Rinse Your Mouth
Any injury to the structure of your tooth increases the risk of developing an infection or sustaining additional damage, so you should also rinse your mouth out with water to remove bacteria, dirt, blood, and any other debris that might be harmful. Rinsing with lukewarm salt water can also naturally disinfect your mouth and help reduce inflammation.
Step #3: Manage Discomfort
Athletes and others who participate in close-contact activities are more likely to sustain this type of injury. If you are hurting, you might try placing an ice pack to the sore side of your face for about 15 minutes for a much-needed numbing reprieve. It’s also often safe to take the recommended dosage of over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to address any associated aches or swelling.
Step #4: Contact Your Emergency Dentist
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to contact your emergency dentist so they can schedule an appropriate appointment time. Many offer same-day visits for urgent issues so that you don’t have to wait long to be seen.
Once you arrive, they’ll examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. Then, they can provide a customized treatment plan, such as placing dental bonding or a dental crown, to restore your tooth’s appearance and functionality.
The sooner you contact your dentist, the faster they can provide services to alleviate aches and improve your dental condition!
Meet the Author
Dr. Terri Alani has 30+ years of experience helping patients build and maintain the happiest, healthiest versions of their smiles. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Texas Houston, and today, she is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association. She offers same-day emergency visits, so if you have injured a tooth, you don’t have to wait long for relief. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (713) 621-5141.