Accidents happen, and sometimes the damage is irreparable. Lucky for your teeth, a broken or lost tooth can be fixed. We all know traumatic accidents like a car crash or a bad fall can injure a tooth, but there’s simple mistakes everyone can make that can also crack teeth:

• Chewing Ice: Ice is really harmful to teeth if chewed regularly. It wears down your enamel
• and eventually you can crack right through the tooth.
• Not Treating Cavities: Cavities can cause tooth decay very quickly. If left untreated, teeth can break down and fall out, partially or whole.
• Old Fillings: If large, old fillings don’t support the enamel of your tooth it can cause breakage.

You should always see a dentist as soon as possible if you’ve broken or knocked out a tooth. However, If you’ve been hurt and have other serious injuries besides broken teeth, rushing to the emergency room should be your first priority. There’s no way to fix broken teeth at home, but it is possible to relieve pain and prevent further damage until you can make it in to see your dentist:

• Take over-the-counter pain reliever to help manage the pain.
• Rinse your mouth out with salt water to prevent infection in open wounds.
• If the broken tooth has created a sharp edge, cover it with wax to prevent slicing your tongue, the inside of your cheek, or your lip.
• Apply pressure with gauze to bleeding areas of the mouth for about 10 minutes.
• Apply a cold pack on your cheek to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
• If it will be over a day until you see your dentist, pick up dental cement from a local drugstore and apply it to the affected area.

Your dentist can give you plenty of options for treating and fixing a broken, cracked, or fractured tooth, and should be consulted right away. If you’ve experience an injury to the mouth and need tooth repair, Greenspoint Dental can help put your smile back together. Contact us today to make an appointment.