“It often happens when you least expect it.”

You chew down on something crunchy — perhaps popcorn, ice or a nut — and then something isn’t quite right. Your tongue grazes your tooth, and you feel a jagged edge that wasn’t there previously.

If you’re asking yourself how to fix a chipped tooth, knowing the cause and treatment options available for you can help keep your smile safe from further damage.

A chipped tooth? For most of us, the initial emotion is concern:

• Is this serious?
• Will my tooth get worse?
• How do I fix a chipped tooth?

The good news is that chipped teeth are extremely common, and dentists fix them every day. In many cases, it is a quick, painless treatment. The trick is to know what precipitated the chip and take all the right actions moving forward.

What Causes a Chipped Tooth?

While teeth are powerful, they are not unbreakable. With time, daily habits or even extreme accidents can wear down enamel and cause small flakes to break off.

Common causes include:

• Chewing down on hard food items like ice, nuts or hard candy
• Sports accidents or other accidental falls
• Nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Erosion of the enamel due to tooth decay
• Old dental fillings that compromise tooth structure
• Sudden impact to the mouth

A chip is nothing more than a cosmetic issue in some cases. At other times, it can indicate more extensive structural damage inside the tooth.

If you notice any pain while chewing or sensitivity to temperature, it’s worth looking for cracked tooth symptoms because cracks and chips can happen at the same time.

What to Look Out for if Your Cracked Tooth Requires Treatment

Not every broken tooth is painful, but some symptoms are a sign that the tooth needs to be checked out by a dentist.

Watch for these signs:

• Green or rough edges that rub against your tongue
• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods
• Pain when biting down
• Tooth with clearly missing chunks
• Pain or discomfort near the tooth

Infections like this can also result from a chip, even if minor, that allows bacteria to gain access.

What to Do Right After You Chip a Tooth

So if you’ve only just chipped a tooth, don’t panic. There are a few easy things you can do to protect your tooth temporarily until you can see a dentist.

While some individuals may do an online search to fix a cracked tooth at home, they must understand that home remedies can usually only relieve the symptoms and cannot fix damage done to teeth permanently.

Immediate care tips:

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
• If possible, save any pieces of the broken tooth
• Not chewing on the affected side
• Eat soft foods until the tooth has been fixed
• Cover sharp edges with dental wax if necessary

These actions can alleviate irritation and provide temporary protection to the tooth.

But they don’t provide a permanent solution to the chip.

How to Fix a Chipped Tooth, According to Dentists

Dentists recommend appropriate treatment depending on the size of the break and whether deeper layers of the tooth are involved.

Here are some of the most common repair options.

Dental bonding is usually the quickest fix for small chips. Most patients have their teeth repaired during a single appointment.

When Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Most chipped teeth are not major problems. But there are times when the damage is more severe.

Get emergency dental treatment if you:

• Extreme or pulsating tooth pain
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop
• Missing a lot of the tooth
• Swelling in the area around the tooth or gums
• Signs of infection

In these cases, prompt treatment can contain damage and conserve the tooth.

Smiles of Viera provides emergency dental service for those who need urgent care when they experience sudden tooth damage.