Maybe you bit down on a piece of hard candy during a boring workday. Or maybe you took a soccer ball to the mouth during practice. A chipped tooth is at best annoying, and at worst painful. Either way, you probably wonder: how do I fix it and what can I expect from the process?
In many cases, a chipped tooth is just a minor cosmetic issue with a fairly simple repair. But if your chipped tooth is severe, your dentist might prevent further problems down the road with a more extensive fix.
Here’s what to expect if you chip a tooth.
What Causes a Chipped Tooth?
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it isn’t bulletproof. Over time, acidic food and drinks, acid reflux and wear and tear from biting and grinding can weaken your teeth. This makes them more susceptible to chips and cracks. And with enough force, like from a direct blow to the mouth, even young and healthy teeth chip.
Common causes for a chipped tooth include:
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Biting down on hard foods like candy, nuts or ice
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Chewing on non-food items like the end of a pencil (don’t do it!)
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A blow to your mouth
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Grinding or clenching your teeth
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Uneven chewing pressure
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Weakened enamel, through wear and tear or large fillings
Signs of a Chipped Tooth
If you take a fall, stand back up and suddenly have a chunk missing from your smile, that’s a pretty sure sign of a chipped tooth. But sometimes a chipped tooth is more subtle, and you might not even realize when it happens.
Most people associate a chipped tooth with pain, but if you chip just the outer layer of enamel, you might not feel it at all. This is because the nerves of your teeth lie in the soft, pulpal center; a surface chip doesn’t always reach close enough to these nerves to register any pain. Likewise, your chip might be so small that it isn’t easily visible to the naked eye.
Watch for these signs of a chipped tooth:
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A jagged or sharp edge on your tooth
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The feeling of your tongue catching on an uneven surface
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Swelling along the gumline near the chip
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Sharp pain when biting down
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Intermittent pain
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Pain when eating or drinking
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The feeling of something stuck between your teeth
What to Do if You Chip a Tooth
Another fun fact about teeth: as strong as they are, teeth are the only tissue in the body that can’t heal itself. Dental emergencies happen, and when they do, it’s best to act quickly in order to prevent infection or further damage to your teeth.
When you chip a tooth, put a cold compress on the injured area to reduce swelling and visit your dentist as soon as possible. If you still have the fragment of tooth, place it in a glass of milk until you get to the dentist. The milk keeps the chipped tooth fragment moist and the calcium helps keep it alive. If the edge of your chipped tooth is sharp enough to irritate your tongue and gums, place a tea bag or dental wax over the jagged area.
How Your Dentist Repairs Your Chipped Tooth
How Your Dentist Repairs Your Chipped Tooth
How your dentist repairs your chipped tooth depends on the size and location of the chip. If the chip is small and on the surface, the dentist might simply smooth and polish your chipped tooth. If the chip is large and the fragment arrives at your dentist’s office intact, he or she might fix the chipped tooth by reattaching the fragment.
If the chip is more substantial, or if you do not have the intact fragment, a more extensive repair might be necessary to fix your chipped tooth. In some cases, if the missing portion is not too large, it may be restored with a composite resin filling. If the missing portion is quite large and the tooth is compromised, a veneer or onlay may be needed. In serious situations, when the nerve of your chipped tooth is damaged, you might need a root canal to repair and save your tooth.
Preventing Chipped Teeth
Accidents happen, but strong and healthy teeth are less likely to chip. Taking certain precautions helps prevent the likelihood of suffering from a chipped tooth. These include:
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Wear an occlusal guard at night if you grind your teeth
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Use an athletic mouthguard when playing contact sports
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Protect your enamel by avoiding too many acidic foods like fruit juice and coffee
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Treat acid reflux to prevent stomach acids from damaging teeth
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If you throw up, rinse your mouth with water (to neutralize the acid), then wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth
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Avoid chewing hard candy or ice
Perhaps most importantly, take care of your teeth and visit your dentist regularly. Brushing and flossing keeps your teeth healthy, and fluoride treatments strengthen your enamel. A strong, healthy set of teeth will serve you well for years to come.
