Summer vacation means more time outside for your kids and more recreational activities. This may mean time on the playground, swinging from monkey bars, riding bikes, skateboarding, or playing sports. From time to time, accidents may happen. A fall or spill or a collision on the field may result in a chipped tooth.
To avoid chipping your tooth, you should talk to our dentist, Dr. Calvin L. Garland about getting a mouth guard for protection. However, you can also call him if you or someone in your family chips a tooth. But if you can’t get in to see Dr. Garland, there are things you can do to help the situation. If you experience a chipped tooth, the first thing you should do is rinse your mouth with a warm salt water solution. This will help clear your mouth of oral debris and provide some relief from any initial pain. Aspirin or ibuprofen or an ice or cold pack can also help with the pain. Depending on the level of damage to your tooth, you may want to avoid hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks in case you experience tooth sensitivity. To fix your tooth, Dr. Garland may suggest dental bonding/filling, a veneer or a full crown to repair the damage. If an infection has set in and the nerve inside the tooth is dying; a root canal and an antibiotic regime may also be necessary.
If you have a chipped tooth in Sacramento, California, your first call should be to RiverLake Family Dental. To schedule your appointment, please call 916-422-1823 today and we’ll be happy to get you in a soon as we can. We are here to help you maintain your healthy smile all year round!