Did you know that 26% of adults aged over 65 have eight or fewer teeth? You can prevent this from happening to you and your children in the future if you practice good oral health.
Although age is a factor in tooth loss, there are accidents that commonly happen to cause chipped teeth. Even without complete tooth loss, it’s essential to take care of the issue right away.
Keep reading to learn what to do if you chip a tooth.
Rinse Your Mouth
The first step of what to do if you chip a tooth is to rinse your mouth. Use warm water to keep the area clean and clear away blood in the mouth.
Get rid of parts of your tooth that could still be in your mouth with a quick rinse. This prevents you from swallowing the tooth or accidentally damaging other teeth when you bite down.
Stop the Bleeding
When you chip a tooth, it won’t always bleed. If trauma to your mouth has caused bleeding, apply pressure to the area with gauze or a clean towel. This helps stop the bleeding and reduces the risk of swallowing blood.
Don’t scrub or further irritate the area because it may increase the bleeding. Steady pressure on the gums or tooth with little to no movement is beneficial.
If you have excessive bleeding, you might have more severe injuries than a broken tooth. Call emergency services or visit the nearest emergency room in this case.
Apply a Cold Compress
Chipped teeth and cracked teeth may cause pain and swelling. To reduce both of these symptoms, you can apply a cold compress to the injured area. This constricts the blood vessels and slows the blood flow.
If you don’t have a cold pack available, you can use a ziplock bag with ice in it. Wrap it up with a towel before applying it to the affected area.
Take an OTC Pain Reliever
An over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever will help those experiencing a lot of pain. You can ease the discomfort before you head out to see your dentist for the issue.
Pain relievers will relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen can help with pain as well but nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen help with both pain and inflammation.
Visit the Dentist
If you have a broken tooth, it’s best to visit the dentist as soon as possible. Find the best dentist for kids if your child was the one who chipped or broke their tooth.
Even if you don’t feel pain, don’t assume that your tooth is fine. The smallest tooth fracture can weaken it and cause infections or significant dental problems in the future.
What to Do if You Chip a Tooth Explained
Knowing what to do if you chip a tooth is important, especially if you have kids. A tooth can be chipped or broken by a variety of things that cause an impact on the mouth.
Rinse the mouth, stop the bleeding, and apply a cold compress to the area. If you or your child is in a lot of pain, consider a pain reliever before heading to the dentist.
Most importantly, visit the dentist as soon as possible to prevent worsening symptoms and problems down the line.
For more informative posts like this, read the other articles on our blog.
