Imagine you’re enjoying a weekend picnic with friends, biting into a crisp apple, when suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your mouth. You spit out the bite and find a small piece of your tooth along with the apple. Panic sets in as you realize you’ve chipped a tooth. In addition, the idea of finding an easily accessible emergency dentist on a Sunday is laughable.
In such a case, knowing what to do immediately after can enable you to manage your pain and prevent further damage.
While seeing a dentist as soon as possible is the best course of action for any dental injury, there are several ways how you can fix a chipped tooth at home and alleviate your discomfort until professional help is available.
Understanding the Severity of Your Chipped Tooth
The first step after you chip a tooth is to assess the severity before exploring how to fix a chipped tooth at home. Finding out how severe the damage is will help you decide the next step and whether you need immediate dental care.
Minor Chips
Minor tooth chips are usually small and often smooth, causing little to no pain. They impact the tooth’s outer enamel and might not even be that noticeable. Minor chips do not pose a serious threat. However, they should still be evaluated by a dentist to make sure that there are no underlying issues.
Moderate Chips
Moderate chips are a bit larger and can cause sensitivity to temperature or touch. These chips often reach the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel), increasing sensitivity when consuming hot or cold foods and beverages. It’s important to seek dental care for moderate chips, as they can worsen over time and lead to more serious dental problems.
Severe Chips
Severe chips involve large fractures that can expose the tooth’s inner layers, such as the dentin or even the pulp, where the nerve and blood vessels are located. These chips can cause significant pain, often resulting in bleeding.
How to Fix a Chipped Tooth at Home
Going to the dentist for any kind of tooth chip is the best course of action, but until you can get access to your emergency dentist, it’s a good idea to know the basic ways how to fix a chipped tooth at home.
Cleaning the Area
- When fixing a chipped tooth at home, the most important thing is to clean the area to prevent infection.
- Start by gently rinsing out your mouth to clean the chipped area and remove any debris.
- Avoid touching the chipped area with your fingers, as this could introduce bacteria and worsen the situation.
Managing Pain & Discomfort
If you are looking for ways on how to fix a chipped tooth at home, then surely you will also need to know how to manage your pain and discomfort.
- To manage the pain and reduce inflammation, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging.
- Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the outside of your cheek near the chipped tooth to reduce swelling and numb the area.
Protecting the Tooth
Protecting the tooth until you see a dentist is one of the most important aspects of knowing how to fix a chipped tooth at home. You can use dental wax, which is easily available at most pharmacies, to cover the sharp edges of the chip.
Temporary Dental Repair Kits
Many people opt for an over-the-counter temporary dental repair kit when looking for ways to fix a chipped tooth at home. These kits usually contain materials like temporary filling compounds that can be used to cover the chipped area. Simply follow the instructions on the kit until you see your dentist.
Diet Considerations
- Stick to soft foods as that will put less pressure on the chipped teeth. You can opt for foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods like nuts, hard candies, or ice, as they can increase the damage.
Oral Hygiene
- Practice your regular oral hygiene routine, but be gentle around the chipped tooth.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth without causing additional irritation.
- Use an antiseptic mouthwash to rinse your mouth, as this can reduce the risk of infection.
Monitoring the Tooth
While attempting to fix a chipped tooth at home, it is imperative that you monitor it for any signs of worsening, such as increased pain, swelling, or other signs of infection, such as pus discharge or a bad taste in the mouth.
When Should You Seek Immediate Dental Care for a Chipped Tooth?
While minor chips are issues that you can address yourself if you know how to fix a chipped tooth at home, there are certain signs that indicate that you might need emergency dental care.
- Severe Pain: If your chipped tooth is causing intense pain that doesn’t subside with over-the-counter pain relievers, see a dentist as soon as possible. This pain could indicate damage to the inner layers of the tooth or an exposed nerve.
- Bleeding: Any significant bleeding from the chipped tooth or surrounding gum area is a bad sign that requires immediate professional attention. Bleeding can signal deeper damage and a potential risk of infection.
- Exposed Nerves: If you can see or feel the nerve inside the tooth, it’s definitely a dental emergency. Exposed nerves are highly sensitive and vulnerable to infection, requiring immediate dental treatment.
- Swelling & Infection: Signs of infection, such as swelling or pus, also demand urgent care.
- Loose or Mobile Tooth Fragments: Loose or moving parts of a chipped tooth can lead to further damage and complications. A dentist can stabilize the tooth and prevent further issues.
Conclusion
Dealing with a tooth chip can be stressful, but knowing how to fix a chipped tooth at home can give you time to manage the situation and prevent further damage until you can see the dentist.
While home remedies can help manage the issue temporarily, the importance of seeing a dentist for a thorough evaluation and proper treatment cannot be understated. Only a professional dentist can provide the necessary care to repair the tooth and prevent future problems.
So, don’t delay seeking professional advice and contact your dentist as soon as you notice a chip in your tooth.
Get Immediate Relief for Your Dental Emergencies at First Class Smiles
Whether you’ve chipped a tooth, experienced a severe toothache, or faced another dental emergency, do not let it disrupt your life.
Contact First Class Smiles today for immediate assistance. Call us now at (847) 264-4152/ (847) 824-3536.
FAQs
What should I do immediately after chipping my tooth?
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clear any debris and clean the area.
- If there’s bleeding, apply gauze to the site until it stops.
- You can apply a cold compress on your cheek to help reduce swelling and numb the area.
- Avoid touching the chipped area with your fingers
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.
Can I use a dental repair kit to fix my chipped tooth?
Yes, dental repair kits can provide a temporary solution for a chipped tooth. These kits typically include materials to cover and protect the damaged area. However, this is a temporary fix. So see a dentist as soon as possible for a permanent solution.
What foods should I avoid if I have a chipped tooth?
To avoid further damage to a chipped tooth, steer clear of hard, crunchy, or sticky foods. This includes nuts, hard candies, ice, and chewy candies. Instead, opt for soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies until you can visit your dentist.