Why Did a Piece of My Tooth Break Off?
Having a broken or chipped tooth can be anywhere from annoying to very dangerous. There are quite a few things that may have caused a piece of your tooth to break off. Whatever the reason may be, you may want to consider having it repaired.
Below is more information about why pieces of teeth can break off, what to do, and what happens if the issue isn’t addressed.
Why Did a Piece of My Tooth Break Off?
There are quite a few things that may have led to a piece of your tooth breaking off. These include:
* An accident or fall
* Biting a hard piece of food
* Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)
* Chewing on ice
Whether you bite a kernel of popcorn or you fall off your bike and hit the ground, you can end up with a broken tooth. So, what should you do?
What Do I Do?
In the case of a broken tooth, there are a few options for treatment. Depending on the severity of the break, you may either schedule a regular appointment with your dentist or visit an emergency dentist. For instance, if you have severe pain, bleeding, and a really bad break, you’ll need to visit an emergency dentist to have the issue addressed immediately. On the other hand, if you only have a small chip, you can wait for a regular appointment (as long as it isn’t getting worse).
If you are having a dental emergency, consider contacting your dentist for a referral (if they don’t provide emergency services). If it’s after hours, you may need to search online for an emergency dentist in your area.
Reducing Pain Before Treatment
A broken tooth may cause pain and discomfort. If this is the case, consider taking over-the-counter pain relievers (as instructed by the bottle) and rinsing out your mouth with saltwater. Until the tooth is treated, avoid any hard foods.
What Happens If I Don’t Repair the Tooth?
Not repairing a broken tooth can lead to different consequences, depending on the break.
If the break is minor, you may simply not want to smile as much due to your tooth’s appearance. This can affect your mood and self-esteem. You should definitely smile, even if your tooth is broken! With that said, if you want to get a small chip or minor damage repaired, see a cosmetic dentist.
If the tooth is more severely broken and you don’t get it repaired, the damage can get worse over time. If the root is exposed, you may end up with an infection and need root canal treatment. For more severe cases, your dentist may need to extract the tooth entirely.
Reach Out Today
If your tooth is cracked, chipped, or broken, reach out today. We will speak with you about the level of damage and what options are available for treatment. No matter how small the damage is, you should at least consider a visit to the dentist for an examination.