What Should You Do Right After Breaking a Tooth?
Breaking a tooth can be quite scary. In one minute, everything seems fine, and the next, your tongue keeps annoyingly finding that sharp spot in your mouth that wasn’t there this morning.
There are many reasons a tooth can break: sometimes it happens in a hard hit like a sports injury or a car accident; other times, you just bite something too crunchy with too much enthusiasm; or even happen when the cause gets you by surprise. You know that cavity that has been silently building up for months, right when you decided to skip that six-month check-up? Well, that is a more common cause than you think.
The good news is that acting right away can make a real difference in preventing long-term damage. Whatever caused the break, we recommend a visit to our dental clinic in Burnaby so our team can examine you closely and find the best treatment for your case.
Simple steps you can follow right now:
First, take a deep breath. As stressful as losing a tooth can be, we’re here to help you find the right fix for it. We recommend that you follow these steps to protect your tooth and your mouth health for now, until you’re seated in our chair.
- Save the broken piece, if you can find it.
Put it in a small container with a bit of milk or your own saliva, and bring it to your appointment. We may not always be able to reattach it, but having the piece can help us better understand the break and how to fix it. - Rinse your mouth with warm water and swish gently.
A gentle rinse can clear away small bits or debris and help you have a better sense of the damage. - If an injury broke your tooth, take care of any swelling and bleeding.
To prevent swelling, we recommend you use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for short intervals; for bleeding, bite down lightly on clean gauze, keep steady pressure, but don’t chew or keep checking every few minutes, since that can restart the bleeding. - Call our dental clinic in Burnaby.
Even if the pain feels manageable right now, don’t leave it for later. We highly encourage you to give us a call and let us assess how urgent the situation is and get you in as soon as possible.
At Kensington Square Dental, we keep our schedule open for same-day emergency dental care, so call us at (604) 298-5595 so we can find the best fix.
What counts as a broken tooth?
A broken tooth can be anything from a crack the size of a hairline in the outer enamel to a small chip when a piece of enamel breaks away, or even a larger break that exposes the dentin or pulp inside.
Because the enamel doesn’t have nerves or blood vessels, a small chip, for example, may not hurt at all, even if you’re feeling that sharp edge against your tongue. But when the deeper layers are exposed to air, temperature, or bacteria, the tooth can become painful and sensitive.
What’s tricky about it is that how a broken tooth feels doesn’t always tell you how severe the damage is. No matter the situation, it always requires attention. That’s why we recommend having our team examine it promptly, even if the pain seems mild at the moment.
What should you avoid after breaking a tooth?
Knowing what not to do in this situation matters just as much. A few common actions, even the ones with good intentions, can turn a simple repair into a more challenging one, so be aware:
- Don’t eat hard or crunchy foods; chewing on the exposed area can make the crack spread or break the tooth even more.
- Don’t ignore it just because it doesn’t hurt; cracks can get deeper and more vulnerable to infection.
- Don’t try to fix it yourself using superglue or any other home fixes.
- Don’t put aspirin on the tooth or gums; this can burn your gum tissue.
- Don’t wait until things get worse; if you’re feeling pain or sensitivity, this is a sign enough to call us.
How is a broken tooth repaired?
The right treatment depends on where the tooth broke, how large the break is, whether the nerve is involved, and whether there’s infection or damage below the gumline.
We can’t diagnose a broken tooth over the phone, but these are the common restorative treatments we may consider at Kensington Square Dental during your appointment:
- Smoothing and polishing:
If the case is a tiny enamel chip, the tooth may only need a quick reshaping and polishing. - Dental bonding:
For small to moderate chips, dental bonding can rebuild the missing part using a tooth-coloured resin that is shaped and polished for a natural result. - Dental crowns:
When a larger piece of the tooth has broken away, a dental crown can cover and protect what’s left. It’s a reliable restorative dentistry procedure that helps bring back the tooth strength and chewing function in the most natural way. - Root canal treatment:
If the break has exposed or damaged the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, a root canal may be needed. This treatment removes the affected tissue and seals the tooth, relieving the pain and discomfort. - Extraction and tooth replacement:
In case the tooth is broken too deeply to be saved, removing it may be the healthiest option for your overall mouth health. From there, we’ll walk you through what is the best replacement option, such as a dental implant or bridge, for your case.
If those options feel like a lot, try not to worry. You don’t need to come in knowing what treatment you need. That’s why we’re here. Many broken teeth can be repaired and protected with the right care. And there is a good chance yours can be too.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. IS A BROKEN TOOTH ALWAYS A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
Not always, but it should be checked promptly. A broken tooth becomes an emergency when you feel severe pain, swelling, fever, uncontrolled bleeding, trauma to the face, or a knocked-out tooth. No matter the case, we recommend you call us so we can advise you based on your situation.
02. WHAT IF MY BROKEN TOOTH DOESN’T HURT?
See a dentist anyway! A painless break can still expose the inner tooth to bacteria or hide a crack that deepens with chewing. Catching it early usually means a less complex repair.
03. CAN A DENTIST FIX A BROKEN TOOTH IN ONE VISIT?
Often, yes, but it’ll depend on your case. Small chips can usually be smoothed or repaired with dental bonding in a single appointment, whereas larger breaks might need a dental crown or root canal treatment, and it may take more than one visit to our dental clinic.
04. SHOULD I SAVE THE PIECE OF MY BROKEN TOOTH?
Yes, if you can find it. Store it in a container with a bit of milk or saliva and bring it with you for your appointment. Reattachment isn’t always possible, but the fragment helps our team assess the break and plan the repair.
05. CAN I EAT AFTER BREAKING A TOOTH?
Yes, but carefully. Avoid anything hot, cold, hard, or sticky until the tooth is repaired. Choose only soft food, and chew on the opposite side.
06. WHAT HAPPENS IF I LEAVE A BROKEN TOOTH UNTREATED?
The most common outcomes are decay in the exposed area, a crack that spreads deeper, infection of the inner tooth, and eventually, a tooth that can no longer be saved. A repair that could be a simple bonding can become a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction with time. As we always tell our patients: the earlier the better, and almost always, less expensive.
07. WHERE CAN I GO FOR A BROKEN TOOTH IN BURNABY?
At Kensington Square Dental, we offer emergency dental care, including same-day appointments, at our clinic on Hastings Street in North Burnaby. Call us at (604) 298-5595, and our team will help you figure out your next step.