Damaged Teeth

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• If a tooth is chipped or cracked, but there is no other damage, you may wish to see a dentist who does cosmetic work to have the tooth restored to its natural appearance. Regular follow-up visits are important to make sure there are no complications developing in the injured tooth.
• If there is damage to the inner parts of the tooth, you must see a dentist within 24 hours. If not treated, the tooth can become infected, and you could lose it. Until your dental visit, drink only cool or warm liquids (the tooth will be sensitive to cold and heat).
• If the tooth is injured below the gum line, but there is no injury to the enamel, the only symptom may be tenderness when biting or chewing for a few days. Apply a piece of ice to the injured gum area (unless that increases pain) several times a day for 2 or 3 days. No immediate dental treatment is necessary, but you should make an appointment for a regular checkup to make sure there are no problems developing in the tooth.
• If a tooth is slightly loosened or pushed inward by the injury, eat only soft foods for 1 to 2 weeks, making sure to keep your diet as well-balanced as possible. Soft foods include gelatin, cooked cereal, baby food, ice cream, applesauce, bananas, eggs, pasta, cottage cheese, soups, and yogurt. A mildly displaced tooth usually returns to its normal position within a few weeks without treatment.
• If you have a mouth or lip wound, rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of water), or a half-and-half mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide, 3 or more times daily after eating. Do NOT swallow the solution. Apply hydrogen peroxide to the wounds with a cotton-tipped swab several times a day.

Call Your Dentist If...

• The injured tooth becomes more sensitive to cold, heat, air, sweetness, or sourness.
• Tooth pain develops or increases.
• The tooth gets darker in color.
• You develop any new symptoms, including a headache.