The dreaded old cracked tooth. It’s painful and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Dealing with this issue quickly can help you avoid a dental emergency. With a few quick steps and knowing what not to do, you’ll be on your way to pain relief in no time.
Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
There’s more to cracked teeth than a mere crack. If you have a crack in your tooth you may experience several of these symptoms:
- Pain: You may experience pain when biting down or chewing.
- Sensitivity to Heat and Cold: If you feel discomfort when consuming hot or cold food, drinks, or other substances, that could be cracked teeth.
- Swollen or Tender Gums: Painful tenderness in the gums is another sign that a cracked or chipped tooth may be the culprit.
How to Proceed After Your Symptoms are Identified
Once you’ve identified that a cracked tooth is likely the cause of your pain, there are a few steps to take:
1. Rinse Mouth with Warm Water
Rinse and clean the area around the tooth to clean away any food particles or debris that could otherwise irritate the cracked area.
2. Put Cold Compress on Face
Putting a cold compress on the face can help reduce any swelling in the area. You should only do this for 20 minutes at a time with an hour in between for optimal tooth pain relief.
3. Sleep with Head Elevated
The last thing you want to do is exacerbate the tooth pain. Elevating the head while sleeping is one way that can help reduce the pain.
4. See Your Dentist as Soon as Possible
This is key. It’s important to get cracked teeth evaluated and treated immediately by a professional dentist to prevent further damage or infection. No one knows cracked and chipped teeth like a professional.
What to Avoid Doing During Your Tooth Pain
Tooth pain is no fun but everyday things that you usually do can be the same things that amplify the pain. The following are things you should avoid doing to reduce tooth pain:
1. Eating Hard Foods
Stick to softer foods that won’t put any further pressure on the cracked area. Like when you get your wisdom teeth removed, soup is a great way to achieve this.
2. Very Hot or Cold Foods
Although this may be tempting, avoid consuming very hot and cold foods as they can cause discomfort around the cracked area.
3. Excessive Chewing
In addition to hard and hot/cold foods, also try to refrain from excessive chewing as this will cause further discomfort in the cracked area.
Cracked and Chipped Tooth Pain Relief
There are a few things you can do to try to ease that dreaded cracked tooth pain:
- Apply clove oil to the area: Clove oil helps soothe discomfort with its numbing properties.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers: Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen can help with the relief you feel from pain.
How Can Your Tooth Be Repaired?
Depending on the severity of your cracked tooth, there are a few different ways it can be repaired:
- Bonding: Bonding is a procedure that uses composite resin material to repair cracked and chipped teeth.
- Crown: A crown is sometimes used when more severe damage has been done to the tooth. It involves placing an artificial cap on the crack to protect it and restore its function.
- Root Canal: This may be necessary if the tooth has caused a deep cavity. A root canal is done to remove the pulp and nerve tissue from inside the chipped tooth.
- Extraction: If the tooth is too damaged to be repaired, it may need to be extracted.
Trust Stehl Family Dental to Get Your Teeth In Shape
No matter the severity of the crack, you can trust that Stehl Family Dental will help you get it fixed. Our team of experienced professionals is here to make sure your cracked tooth repair is done in a way that ensures long-term comfort and stability.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
