{"id":318,"date":"2025-02-13T17:41:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drmurrayfairfaxva.com\/blog\/?p=318"},"modified":"2025-04-04T17:46:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T17:46:48","slug":"what-should-i-do-if-i-break-my-tooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drmurrayfairfaxva.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/13\/what-should-i-do-if-i-break-my-tooth\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should I Do if I Break My Tooth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Breaking a tooth can be very scary but staying calm and knowing what steps to take in the moments afterward can make it a lot easier. If you\u2019ve accidentally damaged your smile, don\u2019t panic. Here\u2019s what you should do next to help protect your injured tooth from further damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Help! I Broke My Tooth! Now what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you should do after breaking a tooth is rinse your mouth well with water to wash away any sharp fragments and clear any bacteria or food particles from the injury. If you are bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with a piece of gauze or washcloth. If the bleeding doesn\u2019t stop within about ten minutes, go directly to your nearest emergency room for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not bleeding and are able to speak, your next step should be to call your emergency dentist<\/a>. Don\u2019t use the webform on their website, as this may not get an immediate response. Instead, call speak directly to someone on the staff and explain the situation, including the condition of the tooth and your soft tissue. Your dental team will make sure that you\u2019re seen as soon as possible. You may need to come in immediately, or it could be okay to wait. They will help you make that decision during the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you cannot see your dentist immediately, be sure to take care of the tooth in the meantime by avoiding using it to chew. You can still brush around it, however, do not brush it directly unless given the okay by your dentist. You can soothe it and keep it clean by swishing some warm salt water until it can be repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Treat a Broken Tooth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you arrive at your emergency dental appointment, your dentist will examine the tooth and take X-rays to ensure that there is no damage below the gumline. If there is, you may need to have any remaining portion of the tooth extracted. If it is fixable, there are a few options that could be used, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n