No matter how small the chip or crack in your tooth may be, it's never a good idea to try and file it yourself. Doing so can easily compromise the enamel and dentin of your tooth, both of which are essential for your oral health. Instead, you should visit a dentist who knows how to properly repair a tooth without damaging these important substances. Sharp edges of teeth caused by injury can be irritating and may even cut the tongue or the inside of the cheek.
In these cases, filing the tooth at home with a nail file or emery file may provide some relief. However, if you're experiencing any real pain, it's dangerous to file the tooth yourself. Instead, you can use temporary pain relievers such as wax or medications until you can see a dentist. The damage that can be done to your teeth from chipping or cracking ranges from a small splinter or crack to breaking a tooth or having one completely dislodged.
A dentist is able to preserve the enamel and dentin while fixing a chipped or broken tooth. If your tooth has a small splinter and an irregular edge, you can apply dental wax over the edge to prevent cutting your tongue or damaging your mouth. Unless you're experiencing significant pain or bleeding, a chipped or slightly cracked tooth isn't usually considered a dental emergency. Splinters and cracks are potential invitations to cavities and bacterial infections, which are much more serious than they may appear in the mirror.
You can soften some paraffin wax between your fingers and then place it on and around the chipped tooth to provide some protection. If the crack or splinter is worse than it looks, you'll want to let your dentist know as soon as possible so they can act quickly and preserve your dental and oral health. If you need to have a tooth extraction, your provider will likely recommend an implant that looks and works like a natural tooth. Your dentist knows the structure of your teeth intimately and can even take pictures to see if the crack or chipping is threatening the integrity of the tooth completely.
Temporary broken tooth repair kits are available at pharmacies and online and can be useful while you wait to see a dentist. Self-modelling of teeth is very likely to make a chip or crack worse than better and can introduce bacteria to the damaged area.
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