What to Do When You’ve Chipped a Tooth

As you can imagine, chipping a tooth is an upsetting experience. Having part of your smile splinter and fall out feels “off,” unnatural, and so on. Even so, you mustn’t panic over it; there are things you should do when you’ve chipped a tooth. Taking these steps will minimize (or even reverse) the dental damage, ensuring your grin remains stable. If you’d like details, here are the things you should do if you’ve chipped a tooth.

Step 1: Rinse Out Your Mouth

When your tooth is chipped, you should first rinse out your mouth. This move will help a lot in the long run.

Note that debris often sticks around a tooth’s damaged area. Left unchecked, these materials – blood, dirt, food chunks, etc. – can cause pain and inflammation. Rinsing your mouth with water would clear the debris out, though; you’d then avoid further irritation. It’d also keep you from swallowing the part of your tooth that broke off.

Step 2: Stop the Bleeding (if Any)

The area around your chipped tooth may experience bleeding. If so, stop the blood flow after you’ve done an oral rinse.

Stemming the flow of blood is pretty simple, all things considered. Just apply pressure to the affected area with a clean towel (or gauze) right away. At the same time, don’t do any scrubbing; you’d irritate the injury site and experience more pain and bleeding. You should instead hold steady pressure on the tooth with as little movement as possible.

Step 3: Relieve Pain & Swelling

Once your bleeding (if any) is under control, you should relieve any lingering pain and swelling. Your mouth will then feel more comfortable.

Several good ways exist to ease oral pain and swelling. One approach is to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, especially acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Another method is to apply a cold compress, which would use low temperatures to numb the injury, constrict blood vessels, and decrease circulation. Whether you use the first idea, the second, or both is up to you.

Step 4: Quicky Visit Your Dentist

Last but not least, you should quickly visit your dentist for treatment. They’ll ensure your chipped tooth doesn’t cause long-term problems.

Chipped teeth often suffer worse issues when they aren’t treated. After all, harmful bacteria can more easily reach their inner nerves and cause severe infections. You should thus see a dentist for appropriate care when possible, as they could apply a dental filling or crown.

For more on how to respond when you’ve chipped a tooth, consult your dental provider. They’ll gladly provide the relevant facts!

About the Practice

DeAngelo Dental of Homer Glen is based in Homer Glen, IL. Led by namesake and founder Dr. DeAngelo, our practice strives to enhance your smile effectively and comfortably. We thus tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to your smile, all while applying a warm and gentle touch. Our office can also handle dental emergencies like chipped, cracked, and knocked-out teeth. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (708)-854-5912.