Breaking a tooth can be quite painful. However, it is quite a common event. Many people break a tooth at some point in their lives. Teeth can be damaged in a variety of ways, and they can be damaged slightly or extensively. This article looks at what you should do if you break a tooth and when you should seek help.
What Should You Do Straight Away?
One of the first things you should do is rinse your mouth out with warm water. This will help you to clean your mouth. If there is any bleeding, apply some pressure by placing a cold compress on the area. This will help to reduce any swelling.
You still have the broken tooth? put it in some wet gauze and take it to your dentist.
If you Lose the Tooth
If your tooth has fallen out of your mouth, use some water to rinse it off. Don’t clean it with anything else, and don’t try to clean anything off it. Simply take some gauze and pick the tooth up by the crown. Put your tooth back into its socket if you can.
If you are unable to get your tooth back into the socket, place it in some water, saline solution, or milk. Try to see your dentist within 30 minutes. The sooner you see your dentist, the better the chance that they have of putting your tooth back in place. Alternatively, they might decide to repair the hole in your gum so it doesn’t become infected.
If it does, there’s a real chance that you will need antibiotics and further care.
1. Protecting Your Mouth
While it’s important that you protect your tooth, you also need to protect your mouth. Please try not to floss your tooth, especially if some of it is still in your mouth. You could risk damaging it even further. Buy some dental wax and place it on the edge of the tooth. This will ensure you’re less likely to damage your lips or tongue. Please do not do this if you have a lot of tooth missing.
2. Using a Tooth Repair Kit
Drugstores usually sell tooth repair kits. Please note, the repairs you make to your tooth will only be temporary. You will still need to make sure that you see your dentist as soon as possible. Some tooth repair kits will come with dental wax. This is a wax that is used to cover any jagged edges. The kits might also contain other types of material that will help you fill in gaps in your mouth. You can mold the material so that it’s the same shape as your tooth.
The false tooth will help to ensure you are less likely to succumb to infection. It can also help with the healing process.
Please do not attempt to deal with any other tooth problems. This is because your teeth and gums will need dental attention. Without the right care, you could have an infection, tooth loss, or a range of complications.
Treating your Broken Tooth
The treatment that your dentist will undertake will ultimately depend on how bad the break is. It will also depend on where the break is. This is because a tooth in the front of the mouth will need different care to a tooth at the back of your mouth.
You might undergo some of the following treatments:
- Bonding
- Crown replacement
- Implant placement
- Polishing
- Tooth extraction
Please note, your dentist will know exactly what treatment you need. They will discuss this with you at your appointment.
The Cost of Fixing a Broken Tooth
The cost of fixing a broken tooth can range from $300 to $3,000. It all depends on what treatment you need and which state you live in. It’s likely that most dental insurance will cover some or even all of the cost. However, this all depends on your instance policy. You should be aware that some insurers will refuse to cover the cost of any cosmetic procedures.
You should be aware that you might need to take some time off work to undergo treatment. If you need an extraction, you might be asked to take at least two days off work to recover. However, a dental appointment on a Friday will allow you to recover all weekend. This will ensure you’re ready to go back to work on the following Monday.
Breaking a tooth can be painful. Regardless of how bad the break is, you should always see your dentist. This is to make sure that you get the care you need. If you delay treatment, you could find that you’re more susceptible to infection.
Also read: Easy Tips for Sparkling White Teeth and Problem Free Gums
