Broken big tooth? Here’s what to do
No matter how minor your child’s chipped big tooth may appear, it is always a good idea to have a dentist look at it.
Discovery that your child has chipped their big tooth can be a traumatic event. While coming to terms with the fact that their beautiful smile could possibly be ruined forever unless you spend a small fortune at the dentist, your child could also be dealing with physical pain. Here’s what you can do to make this bad situation a little better.
Keep Calm
Chipped teeth can and do happen. In fact, they are common enough that dentists have become experts at fixing them. If you remain composed, there is a better chance your child will stay calm, and what you really want by the time your reach the dentist’s office is a calm child.
Call for help!
Your child’s big teeth may not be bones, but they’re made out of similar stuff which means they don’t just break easily or repair themselves like scars and scrapes. A chipped or broken big tooth is considered a dental emergency because it could easily lead to more damage. When a tooth is broken or chipped, depending on how severe the break is, the nerves in the tooth could be exposed increasing sensitivity, possibilities of infection, and tooth decay. While the damage may seem minimal, calling for help is the best way to assess the damage is making an appointment with a dentist.
Save the Fragment
If you find the piece of the tooth that chipped off, keep it moist in a cup of milk. In some situations, a dentist can use special glue to reattach tooth fragments.
Protect your child’s mouth
The jagged edges of a broken tooth can cut your child’s tooth and gums causing more pain and misery. A tooth covering for their tooth could be as elaborate as dental wax or as simple as a piece of sugar-free gum or teabag, held over the broken tooth in the time before your child can see a dentist for a permanent solution. Covering their broken tooth doesn’t only protect their mouth from their tooth, but also protects their tooth from bacteria, food particles, and decay-causing germs in their mouth. Rinse your child’s mouth well before covering the broken tooth.
Give your child’s broken tooth a break
Your child’s broken tooth might look good enough to use, but again, a dentist should always be your first port of call. If the chip is quite minor, the dentist will likely file the tooth down until it’s smooth and call it good. If it’s worse, your child’s dentist can offer solutions like crowns, fillings, and recontouring to fix a broken big tooth for both cosmetic and dental reasons.
