About this topic
Teeth break for many reasons. A tooth can break due to an accident or when playing sports. A tooth can break while chewing. A badly broken tooth can lead to pain and infection if left untreated. ‚
There are many ways to treat a broken tooth. Your dentist will talk with you about your treatment options. Together you will choose the best treatment for you. ‚
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your dentist what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the dentist says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- If you arrive home and have more questions, call your dentist for advice.
- Brush and floss your teeth 2 to 3 times a day. Make sure you brush before bedtime.
- Ask your dentist if there are any foods you need to avoid and for how long.
If you had a dental crown: ‚
- Stay away from hard, sticky, or chewy foods that may pull off your temporary crown.
- Chew on the side of your mouth without the temporary crown.
- Slide floss material out instead of lifting with an up and down motion.
If you had a tooth pulled: ‚
- Relax at home. Avoid heavy physical activities for a day or two.
- Put cold compress or ice packs on your cheeks. This will help with swelling.
- Try to avoid pressure on your jaw when you sleep.
- Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours after the procedure. After 24 hours, gently rinse your mouth with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of water to keep the area clean of food debris.
- Do not smoke. If you need help quitting, talk to your dentist.
- Do not drink with a straw. Instead, use a regular cup and tilt your head to drink liquids.
- Eat soft foods and drink liquids for the first few days. Try chewing on the other side.
- Do not touch or rub the area with your tongue where the tooth was pulled, especially if you had stitches placed.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your dentist may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year or more often if needed.
What drugs may be needed?
The dentist may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent or fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Your physical activity should not be limited. If you had a tooth pulled, you may need to relax with no heavy active physical activity for a few days. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain
- Infection
- Abscess
- Tooth may break more
- Nerve involvement which may require a root canal or extraction
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do not chew on hard objects like bones, pencils, and ice.
- Use caution when chewing hard foods.
- If you think you may grind your teeth at night, talk with your dentist about how to prevent fractured teeth.
- Wear an athletic mouthguard when playing sports.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, bad taste in your mouth that lasts for a long time, or swelling.
- Very bad toothache that wakes you from sleeping or will not allow you to eat
- Bleeding in your mouth that does not stop
- Tooth falls out. If this happens, keep it clean. Do not touch the roots or clean the surface. Put in a container with saliva, milk, or a solution designed for teeth. Take it to the dentist right away.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how I will take care of my mouth.
- I can tell you when I can go back to my normal diet.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have bleeding, a bad toothache, or the tooth falls out.
Where can I learn more?
American Dental Association ‚
http://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_25.pdf ‚
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dental-emergencies.aspx ‚
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teeth-grinding.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚