Steps for Caring for a Broken Tooth

Having a broken tooth can be painful. It can also affect both your smile and your oral health. This is something that a dentist should treat right away. Before you are able to see the dentist, there are some things you can do to find relief and protect your tooth. If you follow these guidelines, you can save your tooth and avoid the embarrassment of losing it. Then, get to your dentist’s office as soon as possible.

There are two main causes of a broken tooth. First, the person can suffer an injury or mishap. Second, poor oral hygiene or other dental problems can lead to a fracture. Injuries can occur in sporting events or similar activities. A hard blow to the face or biting into something hard can break a tooth.

Poor brushing habits can cause tooth decay. If a dentist does not treat this, the decay can grow. The tooth can eventually become brittle and weak. This makes it susceptible to breaking. A fracture can take place while the person is chewing or if they grind their teeth.

As soon as possible after having a broken tooth, the person should contact the dentist. Many dentists have same-day appointments or even allow walk-ins. The dentist has the knowledge and training to repair a fractured tooth. Waiting to visit the dentist will put the tooth at risk for developing an infection or breaking even more. Tooth loss could occur as well.

There could be bleeding when there is a broken tooth. The person should rinse with warm water to flush out the blood. This will also keep the area clean. However, the individual should not brush the fractured tooth.

Breaking a tooth can cause discomfort and irritation. There can also be swelling in the area. Before getting to the dentist’s office, the person can take over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Putting a cold-compression pack on the mouth can bring down the swelling and soothe the pain.

If there is still bleeding around the broken tooth, the person should try to stop it. Rinsing the mouth may not be enough. Putting pressure on the tooth with a towel or gauze pad can accomplish this. Once the patient gets to the dentist’s office, the team there can effectively stop the bleeding.

If part of the tooth remains in the socket, the patient may be tempted to touch it or even remove it. Only the dentist should do this. If the patient attempts to take out the tooth, it could cause further damage. There could be more bleeding and even the development of an infection.

Breaking a tooth can be distressing and even embarrassing. You may worry about how you look and what it will do to your smile. This condition can also be painful and risky to your health. Your actions before seeing the dentist can go a long way toward saving your tooth.

Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistrywalnutcreek.com or call Advanced Dentistry Of Walnut Creek at (925) 937-2273 for an appointment in our Walnut Creek office.

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