Chipped tooth

You're crunching ice or a piece of hard candy when you notice something hard in your mouth that doesn't melt or dissolve. You get a sick feeling as you realize what it is -- a piece of broken tooth.

Although the enamel that covers your teeth is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body, its strength has limits. Falling, receiving a blow to the face, or biting down on something hard -- particularly if a tooth already has some decay -- can cause a tooth to chip or break.

If you discover you have broken or chipped a tooth, don't panic.

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• If the tooth is painful, take acetaminophen or another over-the-counter pain reliever. Rinse your mouth with salt water.

• If the break has caused a sharp or jagged edge, cover it with a piece of wax paraffin or sugarless chewing gum to keep it from cutting your tongue or the inside of your lip or cheek.

• If you must eat, eat soft foods and avoid biting down on the broken tooth.

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Treatment for a broken or chipped tooth will depend on how severely it is damaged. If only a small piece of enamel broke off, the repair can usually be done simply in one office visit. A badly damaged or broken tooth may require a more lengthy and costly procedure. Call us know and don't wait till it is too late to treat the tooth easily. 

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