You just bought your favourite coffee from your local cafe. You bring the cup towards your mouth as your friend waves at you through the window and all of a sudden CRACK! You’ve hit your front tooth, and upon inspection, it’s chipped. Oh dear.
A chipped tooth is a pretty common issue for people of all ages, it’s surprisingly easy to do despite enamel being the hardest tissue in our body. Beside hitting your teeth with glassware or falling over, dental problems such as decay and night grinding can cause a chip in your tooth too.
If you have recently chipped a tooth, you must get it fixed as soon as you can. To make sure you do, you should know about the potential problems that can arise if you don’t sort it.
What issues happen if you don’t fix a chipped tooth?
A small chip might not seem like a big deal, especially if it’s at the back where no one can see it. And the truth is, small chips aren’t a problem unless they’re sharp. But if the chip is large enough it can lead to serious issues. This includes sensitivity, pain, bad breath, swollen glands and infections.
Sharp edges from chips can cut your gums, tongue or cheeks. Deep chips can affect the root of your teeth, causing infection and pain. They can also lead to decay which creates sensitivity and bad breath.
When do I need to get a tooth chip fixed?
No matter what, you should always visit the dentists porthmadog following chipping your tooth. It’s best to get them to take a look just in case you need any treatment. Most often, they will just fix it with composite resin or a cap, but more significant cracks and chips will need more extensive work.
If you’ve chipped your tooth very badly, you risk damaging the pulp. The pulp is in the centre of your tooth made from living tissue. In order to save this, you might need root canal treatment.
How do I prevent chipping my teeth?
A lot of tooth chips are from accidents, which can’t really be avoided, but asides from this, the best thing you can do is maintain good oral hygiene. Preventing cavities and decay will keep your teeth as strong as possible.
If you play sports, make sure to get a mouth guard fitted as athletes are prone to injury - especially on the face! Protective gear like helmets and guards will save you from injuring your teeth.
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