Broken Tooth Care

Managing fractured teeth, lost fillings, and crowns

Step by Step

A broken tooth needs a dentist within 24 hours, sooner if the break exposes the nerve, which shows as a red spot or drop of blood inside the fracture, or causes sharp pain to hot and cold. Rinse the mouth with warm water and save the fragments: a dentist can sometimes reattach them. Cover sharp edges with sugar free chewing gum or dental wax to protect the tongue and cheek. A lost filling can be temporarily sealed with dental cement from a pharmacy. A knocked out crown can sometimes be re-seated with temporary dental cement or denture adhesive, but never superglue. Cold compresses control swelling, and painkillers follow the pack instructions. See a dentist promptly to save the tooth and prevent infection.