Don’t Chip A Tooth This Summer!

One of the first things that people notice about you upon an introduction is likely your smile. A beautiful white smile can make quite the lasting impression; so the last thing you want is a chipped tooth ruining it. Seeing as how teeth are the strongest part of the human body, you wouldn’t think you would have to worry about them breaking. However, teeth chip much more often than you probably know. With that said, let’s talk about some of the most common things that cause teeth to chip.

Common Causes of Chipped Teeth

Accidents happen all the time and people actually chip their teeth in a number of surprising ways. For instance, we have had patients come into our dental office after chipping a tooth by biting down on a fork too hard. However, there are certain instances that seem to cause teeth to chip more often than others. Here are the most common causes:

  • Sports Injuries and Contact
    Whether someone hits you in the mouth with their elbow, knee, or head, or you go flying face-first into the ground, sports are a very common reason people chip a tooth. The best way to prevent this from happening is simply to invest in a mouthguard made specifically to protect your teeth. You can either have a custom one made at your local dentist’s office or you can buy one for cheap at Walmart or Walgreens.
  • Using Your Teeth as a Tool
    Despite being told not to as kids, sometimes your teeth seem to be the only tool that can get a job done correctly. However, when you use your teeth to open something or pry it loose, you are putting an enormous amount of pressure on them and it can result in a crack or ship. Make sure you are not using your teeth in this way, as they were not made to open soda bottles or ketchup packages.
  • Chewing Ice (even though you know not to)
    Most people know that repetitively chewing ice can be incredibly bad for your teeth. This is because ice can quickly wear down the enamel on your teeth that makes them strong. This also means that they will become much more susceptible to chipping and cracking the more ice you chew.
  • Grinding Your Teeth
    Many teeth grind their teeth while they sleep and have absolutely no idea. Grinding, like chewing ice, also wears down the enamel on your teeth, which means they will begin to become more prone to chipping and cracking due to this habit as well.

What To Do When You Chip a Tooth

First, let us just say that cracking or chipping a tooth is not an enjoyable experience, so avoid it if you are able by following the aforementioned advice. On the other hand, if you find that you have chipped a tooth, it is important that you contact your local dentist as soon as you possibly can. If you don’t have time to go to the dentist right away, however, we would suggest that you do the following until you can get into your dental office:

  • Use a salt water rinse with ibuprofen if you begin to experience pain
  • Make sure that you keep the area from affecting the rest of your mouth. We would suggest that you put a piece of wax or chewing gum over the area so that the jagged edge is not able to cut other areas of your mouth or your tongue.
  • You can also find a temporary filling at a drugstore. The kit comes with detailed instructions regarding how to make the filling work until you are able to obtain professional dental care. While temporary fillings aren’t very strong, they are convenient and they can help you to buy some time until you can see your dentist for help.

Need a Dentist To Help You With A Cracked or Chipped Tooth?

If you are searching your area for a dentist who can help to fix your chipped or cracked tooth, look no further than Corsi Dental Associates in Woodbury. We can get your smile back to normal in no time at all. So don’t wait another minute! Call us now to make an appointment.

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