A broken tooth leaves a tooth exposed to irritants in the mouth, like saliva and bacteria. That can leave you dealing with pain and bleeding. Severely broken teeth that leave the pulp chamber compromised require emergency dental care. Breaks that affect mostly the outer layer of teeth can be managed with home remedies while you wait to see a dentist.
Treating your damaged tooth at home can help alleviate any pain caused by the injury or sensitivity. Broken teeth sometimes leave behind sharp edges that can irritate soft tissues in the mouth, so you want to address those as well. Here are a few steps that you should take when you have a broken tooth.
Rinsing the mouth immediately after the injury helps remove any debris left behind by the broken tooth. Regular warm water works well, but a diluted saline solution or a mixture of water and hydrogen provides additional protection against infection and pain.
Be careful not to vigorously swish the mixture when rinsing. It should be done gently to avoid aggravating the site of the injury.
Icepacks can be used to reduce any swelling that occurs as a result of the broken tooth. Trauma to the face is one of the leading causes of broken teeth, and that can cause significant swelling. Ice cubes can be covered with a towel to make an ice pack. The cold compress should be applied to the area for 15-minute intervals until the swelling and pain begin to fade.
Blood coming out of a damaged tooth can be stopped by applying gauze to the area. The gauze might need to be replaced a few times before the bleeding stops.
Certain foods are more likely to aggravate a damaged tooth than others. Examples of such foods include:
Chewing food with a broken tooth can lead to additional portions of the tooth breaking off. It is better to chew with the other side of the mouth until the damaged tooth has been restored.
Over-the-counter painkillers and tooth repair kits can be helpful when dealing with a broken tooth. Tooth repair kits provide you with temporary fillings that you can use to cover any sharp edges left behind by a broken tooth. Clove oil works well when it comes to alleviating the pain caused by toothaches.
Ready for a permanent solution for your broken tooth? Call or visit our Vista clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.ultimatesmiles.com or call North County Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry at (760) 940-2273 for an appointment in our Vista office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth in Vista, CA.
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