Chip A Tooth? Here’s What To Do
- Call our office and schedule an appointment right away.
- Cover any sharp parts of your tooth with a piece of dental wax or sugarless gum.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you have any discomfort.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water or use a cold compress if you’re experiencing swelling.
- Avoid extremely hot or cold foods as your tooth will be extra sensitive.
- Don’t eat hard foods. Stick to soft foods and no chewing to prevent additional damage.
Even if you’re not in any pain or the chip is on a back tooth and isn’t visible, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Our dentists in Escondido, CA provide fast chipped tooth repairs, easy payment options, and comfortable care.
Why Do Teeth Chip?
Slips and falls, car accidents, contact sports, and other injuries often result in chipped or fractured teeth — but accidents like this aren’t always the culprit. You could chip a tooth by doing something as ordinary as chewing on a hard piece of food. You might also just wake up one morning and notice a tooth feels different than it used to. Why is this?
It’s likely that your tooth has been weakening over time as the result of an issue like tooth grinding (bruxism), decay, cavities, large fillings, or even acid reflux! These problems make your teeth more susceptible to chips, breaks, fractures, and lost fillings. So while it may appear like you cracked a tooth while eating a sandwich, there’s almost always an underlying cause that’s truly to blame.
Do You Have A Chipped Tooth?
A chipped front tooth will be very apparent. But if you’ve chipped a molar or a very tiny piece of a tooth, you may not notice the problem right away. Be on the lookout for other symptoms of a chipped tooth, including:
- Rough, jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth
- Irritated gums around the problem tooth
- Sore tongue from catching on the tooth’s uneven edge
- Pain when biting and chewing
- A tooth that just feels different than usual