One of the strongest substances in your body is the enamel which is the tough outer covering of your teeth. But excessive wear and tear or a forceful blow can cause the teeth to chip. This might result in a tooth surface which is jagged that is tender, sharp or disfiguring. If you notice that you have a chipped tooth, you will not feel any pain in the tooth, unless the chip is large enough to expose off the nerves of the inner layer of the tooth. It can not only be uncomfortable but also unattractive.
If the chipped tooth goes untreated, there can be oral health problems. So it is monumental to take care of chipped tooth, but before looking at the treatment, let us look at the nitty-gritty of the causes and symptoms of the chipped tooth.
Causes
If you go to your family dentist in New Britain, he/she might number out many reasons for a chipped tooth, like:
- Chomping down hard substances like candy or ice
- Night time grinding which is also called as bruxism
- Unfortunate car accidents or falls
- He/she being low on nutrition
- Playing any type of contact sport with a mouth guard
- Untreated cavities with very large fillings
Symptoms
You might not know that you have a chipped tooth at all if the chip is minor or if it is not in front of your mouth. But when you have symptoms, it can include:
- You might feel a jagged surface when you run your tongue over the teeth
- Extreme sensitivity to cold and hot drinks or food
- Around the chipped tooth, there will be an irritation in the gum
- Bad taste in your mouth or bad breath
- Your tongue might be irritated since it is ‘catching’ one of the tooth’s rough and uneven edges
- Your neck will have swollen glands
Treatment
When the causes and symptoms are known, your dentist in New Britain, CT will recommend treatment options like:
- Tooth Bonding
- Veneer
- Reattachment
- Dental Onlays
In the meantime, you can also follow the self-care measures like:
- Rinsing mouth with salt water
- Eating soft foods
- Covering the sharp edge with paraffin wax or chewing gum so that it does not cut your tongue or lip or cheek.
