Toothache is a symptom of a deeper dental problem so just addressing the ache isn’t enough. Our dentist will examine your dental health carefully and determine with treatment is ideal for you. If you have a toothache or chipped tooth, you can take the steps mentioned below to reduce the damage as much as possible:
Book an Appointment With the Dentist
No matter how mild your toothache or chip is, you need to book an appointment with your dentist immediately. Ignoring small issues can lead to bigger problems down the line. There’s no need to book an emergency appointment unless the toothache is too intense to handle, but make sure you get an appointment at the earliest possible time. However, if you experience intense pain and have continuous bleeding from your gums, it will be a good idea to get emergency care from your dentist.
Immediate Care After The Injury
There are some steps you can take to soothe the ache and reduce the chances of infection immediately after the injury. The steps mentioned below aren’t a replacement for professional treatment. You will still have to visit a dentist to ensure your teeth are in good condition. However, they can help reduce pain and limit the amount of damage to your teeth.
- Rinse Your Mouth – Rinse your mouth with warm, salted water immediately after the injury. This will clear any blood from your palate, clean the wound, and reduce the risk of infection.
- Stop the Bleeding – Press a piece of gauze to the bleeding injury and keep it in place until the bleeding stops. This should take around 10 minutes. If this tip doesn’t help stall bleeding, try pressing a tea bag against the wound. That might be able to fix the issue easily.
- Reduce the Pain with a Cold Pack – Apply a cold pack to your lips, cheek, or over the area with the broken tooth. This will help dull the pain and also reduce any swelling or inflammation.
- Apply Dental Cement – If the crack is severe but you can’t get to the dentist immediately, get some dental cement from the local drugstore and cover the chipped or broken tooth with the solution. That should keep the tooth secure until a dentist can see it.
- Painkillers – You can treat dental pain with any over-the-counter painkillers. There are some topical solutions available to reduce toothache as well. Make sure you don’t overdo it with the painkillers.
These tips can help you manage the injury and limit the damage as much as possible. Keep an eye on the injury and don’t put pressure on the damaged teeth. Avoid hard food items as much as possible and be diligent with your dental care.
What Can You Expect From the Dentist?
The treatment will depend on the severity of the dental fracture. Minor cracks will be smoothed over with a light polish. If the tooth damage is severe enough to reach the pulp, the dentist will fill the crack and place a crown on the tooth to prevent further damage. The dentist will recommend a root canal if the damage reaches the nerve.
Other forms of fractures include damage caused by severe cavities, chips, broken cusps, splits, vertical breaks, and serious breaks. All of these issues require different kinds of treatments.
You can prevent such injuries by taking care of your teeth and using protective implements like mouth-guards during risky situations.
If you want to know more about chipped teeth and toothache, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Rod W. Gore DDS. You can call at 480 585 6225 or contact us directly.