A Step-by-Step Guide to Dealing with Broken Teeth

There are many ways to break a tooth—hit it on something, bite down too hard, or sustain a blow to the face. Never ignore a broken tooth, though. Sometimes, an emergency dentist in San Jose may need to perform a root canal on the affected tooth, and you should not let that wait due to the high risk for infection. Until you can see your dentist, here is a quick guide to dealing with a broken tooth.

Step 1: Rinse Your Mouth

After almost every dental emergency, you should rinse your mouth with warm water. This will help clear out any damaging debris or blood that may be present. Be very gentle while rinsing, and stop if the pain is too great.

Step 2: Stop Any Bleeding

If the broken tooth is bleeding, use a piece of gauze to apply pressure to the area. Keep pressure on the area and monitor the bleeding for about 10 minutes until it stops. If the bleeding will not stop, try a tea bag on the area.

Step 3: Reduce Swelling

Put an ice pack on the cheek covering the broken tooth. You need to keep the swelling down to reduce pain and further injury or bleeding to the area.

Step 4: Call Your Dentist

A dentist must assess the damage of a broken tooth right away. He can determine if the tooth nerve was damaged, or if only a portion of the tooth was damaged. Determining what kind of break occurred will decide if you need a root canal procedure or a dental crown.

Step 5: Cover the Tooth

In case you are unable to see the emergency dentist right away, you may want to apply some dental cement to the remaining tooth. This dental cement can be found at most drugstores, and it is a temporary solution until you can see your dentist.

Step 6: Take Some Pain Medication

Some breaks in a tooth may not cause a lot of pain, but if you are in pain, take some over-the-counter pain medication. Consult your dentist for any further recommendations. A cold compress placed on the face can also reduce your discomfort until you get to the dentist’s office.