Tips for Parents on Dealing with a Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth is common in children. Anyone can get a chipped tooth with a little contact. Also weakening of the tooth due to cavities can lead to a chipped tooth. Biting into hard objects such as hard candy or nuts or grinding the teeth can also lead to a chipped tooth.
The good news is that experienced dental experts can repair a chipped tooth. Here you will find some important information regarding chipped tooth and also how to best deal with a chipped tooth.
About Dealing with Your Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth is not a medical emergency. But still,you should get your child checked by a specialist soon after the accident. This is important to avoid any damage to the enamel of the tooth.
When the tooth is broken, bacteria can enter the bloodstream increasing the risk of an infection. That’s also a reason that you should immediately take your child to a dental expert in case of a chipped tooth.
If you don’t take your child to a dental doctor, it could result in an abscess, toothache, and even tooth loss.
Assessing Damage Due to a Chipped Tooth
The dentist will take a look at the size of the chip to determine the correct dental procedure. A slightly chipped tooth does not require any action in case it has not damaged the sensitive layers beneath. In this case, the dentist may simply polish the teeth to smooth out the rough edges.
Another treatment option for a slightly chipped tooth is using a bonding material. The bonding material helps in maintaining the appearance and structure of the tooth. Moreover, the doctor may recommend porcelain veneers for chipped teeth.
In case the chipped teeth are medium-sized or large enough, it could result in damage to the tooth’s enamel. This can result in an infection, which is the reason you should immediately contact a dentist.
The main thing is that you should get prompt professional attention. This is important to preserve the teeth after the injury.
Tips to Save a Chipped Tooth
You should get your child to a dentist soon after a chipped tooth injury. To stop the bleeding, you should rinse the mouth with warm water. Rinsing the mouth will clear away blood and sooth pain. Make sure that you use warm water and not hot or cold water. This is important as the child will experience sensitivity to hot or cold water.
Next, you should use a clean gauze and apply gentle pressure to the affected area. To reduce any swelling, you can use an ice pack on the area of the face where the tooth is chipped.
Don’t give aspirin or any pain-relieving medication as it may increase the blood flow. If dental cement is available, you should use it until the visit to the dentist. Also, you can use a chewing gum to cover the edge of the teeth if dental cement is not available.
For further dental guidance on your chipped tooth, feel free to get in touch with Smile Brightly today. We can be reached at 586-573-7700.