The American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry states that repairing a cracked tooth is important for dental and general health. A crack in the tooth allows bacteria and food particles to enter it. An infection will develop if you do not see your dentist for immediate treatment. Here are the details on what you must do if you crack your tooth.

What to Do Right After Cracking a Tooth

Cracking a tooth can be alarming. But panicking is not ideal for your situation. You must remember to keep the damage minimal. Here are some of the basic things that you can do right after cracking your tooth:

 

• Control the infection. You can do this by rinsing your mouth with a warm saline solution.
   

• Stop the bleeding. Get a cold compress and place it on the area with some pressure. The cold can constrict the blood vessels that supply your tooth. This will stop the bleeding and reduce the swelling.
   

• Preserve the piece of tooth. Wrap the removed piece of tooth in a wet piece of gauze. This will protect and stabilize it as you drive to the dentist.
   

• Manage the pain with over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications. You can also apply clove oil, which has the numbing agent eugenol. It can reduce swelling as well.
   

• Protect your mouth’s soft tissues by applying chewing gum or dental wax on the rough edges of the cracked tooth.
   

• Avoid flossing the affected tooth. This could result in more cracks.
   

• Do not use the affected side for chewing.
   

• Be on a soft diet. This will prevent you from chewing hard enough to possibly damage the tooth even more.

Cracks That Need Immediate Treatment

For many tooth injuries, you can wait until your set appointment to get proper treatment. However, some of them need emergency dental care. A cracked tooth may cause serious pain. If you have found the lost portion of the tooth, keep it in some milk and see the dentist right away. Do so if you find yourself in great pain.

Cracks That Your Dentist Must See

Even if your dental crack or chip is small, you should still see the dentist. This will confirm how profound the damage is. Your untrained eye may assume that the damage is minor. Your dentist will order a dental X-ray to see deep into your gums and jawbone. You cannot treat your cracked tooth at home. You must see the dentist for proper treatment. This will prevent a possible root canal or even tooth loss.

Cracks That May Not Need Treatment

Some cracks are not severe enough for immediate treatment. These are common and are part of aging teeth. There are small cracks and craze lines that stay in the enamel. These will not hurt at all. A kit may include dental wax to cover the sharp, jagged edges or a material that you can mold into the shape of the tooth. The repair is only temporary. It will hold long enough until your dentist sees you.

Knowing what to do if you crack a tooth can help save the tooth from severe complications. At Riverview Dental, we always aim to provide high-quality dental repair services. Visit our clinic in Corunna, Michigan, for an in-person consultation. Please reach us at 989-743-4851 if you want to set an appointment or inquire about our cracked tooth treatment packages.