3 Steps You Can Take To Care For A Newly Chipped Tooth While Waiting For Your Dental Appointment
While participating in a sports activity, you may have been struck in the face, and the impact chipped one of your teeth. Although you may have already made an appointment with your dentist, you may wonder what you can do to take care of it. If so, take the following steps to care for your tooth until your dental appointment.
Rinse Your Mouth With Salt Water
When you chipped your tooth, a chunk of enamel was removed. This enamel helps protect the pulp, blood vessels, and nerves on the inside of your tooth. Without this protective covering, you become susceptible to infection caused by the bacteria in your mouth. Your exposed nerves may also cause you an incredible amount of pain.
To keep your tooth clean and reduce some of your pain, rinse your mouth with salt water every couple of hours. Mix a teaspoon of salt in a quarter cup of cool water. Do not use warm water, as the heat could increase bleeding. The salt kills bacteria, as well as reduces inflammation. The salt water can also help to clean away blood if your blood vessels were affected by the injury.
Put Gauze Soaked With Cold Water On The Tooth
After you have rinsed your mouth with salt water, soak a piece of gauze with cold water, then put it directly on the tooth. Bite down and keep the gauze in place with a small amount of pressure to stop any bleeding. The gauze protects the tooth from your other teeth, and the cold water helps relieve the swelling.
If you have some on hand, you can also add a couple drops of peppermint oil. The oil helps relieve pain, as well as kills germs around the open area. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce any swelling around your gums.
Stick A Small Piece Of Sugarless Gum On Sharp Edges
If your tooth has any sharp edges that are cutting into your tongue or the inside of your teeth, place a small piece of sugarless gum over the tooth. To chew the gum before placement, make sure you use the opposite side of your mouth to keep pressure off of the chipped tooth. The gum will provide a temporary cushion on the tooth. And since it contains no sugar, it will not irritate the inside of your affected tooth.
Taking the above actions can help you take care of your chipped tooth until you can see your dentist. However, if you are in severe pain or cannot stop the bleeding, contact an emergency dental service so they can examine and treat your chipped tooth as soon as possible. Click here to investigate more about dental emergencies.
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