If so, the best course of action is to see a dentist. However, if it's going to be a while before your appointment with them, there are some things you can do to minimise the level of discomfort and reduce the risk of oral infection from kicking in.
In this post, we’ll show you how to handle a cracked tooth emergency. Should you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, these are the steps to take.
Do a self-diagnosis
The first thing you will need to do is understand the severity of your cracked teeth, as this will determine the urgency with which you should see a dentist.Tooth fractures can take many forms from a slight chip to a major break. If you don’t feel too much pain or discomfort due to you only experiencing a minor chip, you can probably wait a couple of days to see the dentist.
However, suppose there has been a more serious break that is causing throbbing or sharp pain, particularly if exposed to pressure or temperature extremes. In that case, this might be indicative of a nerve being compromised. In this case, you should make an appointment with your dentist immediately.
One of the more obvious signs of a major break in your tooth is if a large portion of it is missing. Additionally, bleeding or loose fragments within the tooth and if the crack extends down to the root, are usually pretty reliable indicators.
Immediate course of action
As soon as you possibly can after cracking your tooth, and before you make a dentist appointment, you are recommended to take this immediate course of action.1. Rinse Your Mouth Out
Gently rinse your mouth out with warm water to remove any loose tooth fragments and give the area a bit of a clean.2. Use a cold compress
To alleviate any pain, you might be experiencing and reduce swelling, you should put a cold compress near the area of your broken tooth, on your lips or cheek.Try to do this at 20-minute intervals.
3. Gather broken pieces
If you can, try to recover any parts of the tooth that have completely broken off. Once you find them, rinse them off and store them in cling film or a clean container. Make sure you bring them with you to your dental appointment, as they might come in handy for the repair process.4. Stem the bleeding
Should you experience bleeding, you can gently apply a clean cloth or sterile gauze to the affected area.If the bleeding has not stopped after 10 minutes of continuous pressure, make an emergency appointment with your dentist.
Make an emergency dental appointment
If you need to make an emergency dental appointment, finding one who can see you as quickly as possible is important.Luckily, in Australia, many dental practices specifically set aside slots for emergency appointments, although the times they do this might vary.
Managing discomfort and pain
Sudden bouts of unexpected pain can be a sign that something is wrong in the body. It is important to not ignore these signs, especially when it comes to your teeth. That’s because these signs often indicate the need for immediate and professional attention.Suppose you are experiencing discomfort or pain in the interim period before your dental appointment, taking pain relief medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol might be an effective way of managing it. Just make sure you take the recommended dosage and be mindful of any allergies you might have.
You should also try and avoid irritating the broken tooth further, as this can aggravate the pain more.
If you need to eat, try to consume foods like soup that do not require chewing. Or chomp down on the opposite side of the tooth that is causing you pain. Avoid foods that are hard, chewy or too hot or cold.
Protect the cracked tooth
In some situations, a cracked or broken tooth could have sharp edges that can irritate your cheeks, tongue or gums. To avoid this discomfort and reduce the chances of it creating more damage to your mouth, you can take steps to temporarily cover the area.A good way to do this is to use dental wax, which you should be able to pick up from your local pharmacy. You can mould this wax over the jagged edges to safeguard the soft tissues within your mouth.
If you can’t get to the pharmacy, sugar-free gum can be used to cushion it temporarily until you can get in to see the dentist.
It is worth stating that these measures are not treatments in themselves, so should not be done at the expense of professional dental care. Rather in conjunction with it.
They are merely ways to provide you with short-term protection and comfort in the interim period before your appointment.
During your emergency dental appointment
When you visit the dentist, it is important to have your dental and medical history on hand. Also, make them aware of any medications or allergies you have, as this might affect the course of treatment they provide you with.Additionally, be sure to clearly describe your symptoms to them, including the level of pain you feel and what you have done to manage it.
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