It’s a fairly common occurrence, you bite into something hard, then suddenly you feel a part of your to break loose and start mixing with the food in your mouth. You could immediately feel guilty for biting into the hard food that you knew could be a problem, but more importantly exactly what you do in the case of your tooth?
If it turns out that you need expensive implants or surgery, that may be a little depressing. However, the only way you’re going to know for sure is by visiting a dentist for a consultation.
In most cases it’s important that you see your dentist right away as there are complications that could arise from food entering and decaying below your gums. Also, in some cases there’s a possibility that if repaired immediately your tooth could be saved. Either way, it’s imperative to have a professional assess the damage and give you your options for repairing, fixing or removing what’s left of your tooth.
As far as your broken tooth is concerned, figuring out whether the root was damaged during the break is fairly important. If the root is exposed there is a possibility of extreme pain, requiring immediate attention by a dentist. Sometimes a partial exposure of the root won’t result in pain until the next time you eat or drink something hot or cold.
If you’re not able to get to your dentist immediately, it may be best to stick to softer foods that are neither extremely hot or cold, and avoid chewing on that particular side of the mouth. When you chew food it’s possible for food particles to be forced by hydraulic pressure deep below your gums in the area of your broken tooth. Rinsing your mouth with salty water can help disinfect, and clean your gums in the affected area.
At any rate, a chipped or broken tooth won’t be the end of the world. While it’s possible you may need an implant, most likely you won’t, and your dental professional will be able to repair the tooth in such a way so that no one will be the wiser.