First Aid for a Broken Tooth

The first hour after a tooth breaks

Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to clear away debris. If there is bleeding from the lip or gum, press clean gauze or a cloth on it for several minutes. Pick up any pieces of the tooth and keep them in milk or a clean container, because the dentist may be able to use them.

Do not try to glue or file the tooth yourself. Avoid chewing on that side and stay away from very hot, cold or hard foods. Then call your dentist and describe what happened, because the office can tell you how soon you should be seen.

Protecting your mouth until the appointment

A rough or sharp edge can cut the tongue and cheek. Some pharmacies sell temporary dental repair kits, and a small piece of sugar-free gum pressed over an edge is sometimes suggested, but these are stopgaps and not repairs. Ask the dental office whether they are suitable.

Keep the area clean by rinsing gently with water, particularly after eating. For discomfort, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help, but check the label and ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines or have a condition. Pain relief does not fix the tooth.

Which breaks can wait and which cannot?

A small chip without pain is often not an emergency, though it should still be checked soon. A larger break, a tooth that hurts when you bite or breathe cold air, or a tooth that feels loose deserves a same-day call. Pain, swelling or a bad taste suggests the inside of the tooth may be affected.

A tooth can look minor and still be cracked below the gum line, so appearance is not a reliable guide. Treat any swelling of the face, fever, trouble swallowing or uncontrolled bleeding as urgent, and consider hospital care if you cannot reach a dentist.

• Same-day call: pain, looseness, large break, bleeding
• Urgent or hospital: spreading swelling, fever, trouble breathing
• Soon but not urgent: small painless chip

What a dentist may offer

Options range from smoothing a small chip, to bonding, a filling, a crown, or root canal treatment if the inner pulp is affected. In some cases a tooth cannot be saved. Which option fits depends on how deep the break goes, the position of the tooth and your overall dental health.

We would be wary of any source that promises a particular result without an exam. Ask the dentist what the options are, how long each is expected to last, what it costs in time and follow-up, and what happens if you wait.

Getting more from the appointment

Bring the broken pieces, a note of when and how the tooth broke, and a list of your medicines and allergies. If you hit your head or lost consciousness, tell the team, because that needs medical attention too.

Ask what to avoid eating, how to clean the area and which symptoms mean you should call back. Book any follow-up before you leave. If you have no regular dentist, find an emergency dental number today so you are not searching in a hurry.

Questions readers ask