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Chipping or cracking a tooth can be an unpleasant experience. People often experience pain, inflammation, and sometimes even cut their tongues on the sharp edges along the breaks. However, if you take the right steps afterward, and enlist the repair services of a dentist, you can reduce your discomfort and return your smile to its former glory. Below, learn about the causes behind cracked and chipped teeth, and the ways you can respond if this happens to you. 

Common Causes for Chipped or Cracked Teeth 

A tooth can break or chip after hard collisions and falls, like those suffered by victims of car or motorcycle accidents. Other common causes can include teeth grinding during sleep, sports-related impacts, or biting hard food items.

A chip can also be the result of more serious gum and dental issues, like developed cavities. If you see discoloration or a crevice in your tooth, seek dental help immediately before a larger crack develops. 

How to Respond After Cracking or Chipping a Tooth 

dentistAfter chipping or cracking a tooth, it’s important to rinse your mouth out using warm water. If you locate the fragment of the tooth that broke away, keep it wrapped up in wet gauze and take it to the dentist. If there is any bleeding, apply pressure to it, and use a cold compress for any swelling. 

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with the discomfort. Anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen can also relieve inflammation if the swelling continues to be an issue. Applying clove oil can help numb the pain, and further reduce inflammation. Dental wax, available in some pharmacies, can coat sharp edges on the chipped tooth to prevent cuts and other injuries while you wait to see the dentist. 

How the Dentist Can Help 

If it’s a small chip, a dentist could fix the damage by using dental filling where the enamel was lost. If the damage occurred to a visible tooth, they might choose to use bonding, which involves applying a tooth-colored material to the area and hardening it so that it resembles a real tooth. 

Dental veneers are used on chipped or broken front teeth to make them appear whole again. This involves applying a thin shell of tooth-colored porcelain or resin to the entire front of the tooth. For larger breaks, the dentist could use a crown to improve the tooth’s look and protect it from further structural damage. 

 

If you’re dealing with a cracked or chipped tooth in the Sacramento, CA, area, Ronald L. Rasmussen DDS can help. Patients of all ages receive personalized care that ensures their dental issues are resolved to their satisfaction. Call (916) 689-1100 or fill out the online form on his website to schedule an appointment. 

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