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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:22 causes
0:58 symptoms
1:15 guidelines if you break or chip you tooth
2:29 chipped tooth treatment
2:49 cracked tooth treatment
• You may not feel any pain if your tooth is chipped unless it is severe.
• A crown can fix a chipped tooth.
• The pain by a cracked tooth is only felt when chewing or with temperature change.
• A cracked tooth can damage the roots or only enamel.
Causes
• Some causes of a chipped or broken tooth include:
• Poor hygiene – oral care is very necessary for good health especially if the enamel is damaged already.
• Cavities – they weaken the tooth, so they broke and chip.
• Face trauma – being hit on the face or mouth can result in a damaged tooth.
• Hard biting – biting on things that are hard i.e., ice cubes, bones, walnuts, etc. can weaken the tooth.
• Teeth grinding – teeth grinding also known as ‘bruxism’ affects the teeth.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of a broken or chipped tooth are:
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Increased sensitivity
• Irritation of the tongue when caught on rough surfaces of the tooth,
• Bad breath.
• Pain while chewing
Guidelines if you break or chip your tooth
• There are several ideas for you in case of this emergency.
• Wash your mouth with warm water to get rid of any residue.
• Apply pressure that would help stop the bleeding.
• Using a cold compressor would help decrease swelling.
• In case of a loose tooth
• From the Guidelines of HealthLine, in case you lose a tooth, here is what you can do:
• Try to place it back in the socket if possible, making sure not to swallow it.
• Place it in saline solution, water, or place it in a glass of milk if you are unable to place it back in the socket.
• Try getting to the doctor in half an hour.
• In case of broken or chipped tooth the treatments instructions followed are:
Treatments
• The treatments usually depend on the severity and locations.
• Your doctor will first inspect your mouth and ask for any possible symptoms.
• Anti-inflammatory/ pain relievers are recommended.
• Applying clove oil to the area – helps with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Some Treatments Done by Dentists for fixing a chipped or broken tooth are:
• Tooth repair kits are available in medicine stores that can be used until dentist appointments.
• Chipped Tooth Treatments
• Small chip treatments – the dentist will simply polish the damage if the chip is polished.
• Medium chip treatments – a filling or crown is recommended if the enamel is a minor injury.
• Large chip treatments – a crown or cap is recommended if the tooth nerve is exposed.
• Cracked tooth Treatments
• Simple cracked tooth – the tooth is polished to help with the crack if not severe.
• Split root – tooth extraction is the only treatment.
• Tooth bonding
• Tooth splint – when a tooth is loose or displaced it is bonded with the next one until the gum heals.
• Root canal – if the tooth pulp is damaged filling, bonding, or tooth crown.
• Surgery – can be recommended to find out cracks.
• Maintain good hygiene of your teeth to elude these circumstances.