What should you do if you break a tooth while eating candy, and when should you see a dentist?
One bite into a caramel apple, a piece of hard candy, or a frozen cookie, and you hear that sickening crack. Your tongue finds a sharp edge where your smile used to be smooth. It’s an unsettling feeling, but you’re not alone. Broken teeth from sweets happen more often than most people realize, and the good news is that they’re almost always fixable. OKC Smiles provides tooth restoration treatment for patients in Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore, and Dr. Kevin Murray, DDS, and his team are ready to help restore your smile. Here’s what to do in the first few minutes after the damage, why waiting isn’t a good idea, and how a broken tooth typically gets repaired.
Why Do Sweet Treats Break Teeth So Easily?
Hard candies, caramel, toffee, nut brittle, and frozen desserts all put sudden, concentrated pressure on your teeth. If a tooth already has an old filling or a hidden crack, that extra force can be enough to cause it to give way. Sticky sweets are their own hazard too, since they can pull at existing fillings or crowns and loosen them over time. Sometimes the damage is obvious right away. Other times, a crack stays hidden beneath the surface while still causing pain whenever you bite down or drink something cold.
What Should You Do Right After Breaking a Tooth?
Stop chewing immediately and carefully spit out any fragments, then rinse your mouth gently with warm water. If you can find the broken piece, save it and bring it with you to your appointment. A cold compress held against your cheek helps keep swelling down, and covering any sharp edges with sugar-free gum or dental wax can protect your lips and cheek from cuts in the meantime. Steer clear of very hot or cold foods, and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Most importantly, call your dentist as soon as you can.
Chipped, Cracked, Broken, or Knocked Out: What’s the Difference?
A chipped tooth is missing a small piece, often leaving a sharp edge that irritates your mouth. A cracked tooth might not be visible at all, yet it can cause real pain and sensitivity to hot and cold. A broken tooth has lost a larger piece, sometimes exposing the sensitive inner layer. A knocked-out tooth is the most serious outcome, since it can allow surrounding teeth to shift and create bite problems down the road.
Why Shouldn’t You Wait to Get a Broken Tooth Fixed?
An exposed or cracked tooth gives bacteria a direct path inside, which can quickly lead to infection. Left untreated, that infection can cause painful swelling, bleeding, or receding gums, and eventually tooth loss. Research has even linked spreading oral infections to heart disease. Treating the damage early is almost always less painful and less costly than waiting until the problem worsens.
How Does OKC Smiles Repair a Tooth Broken by Sweets?
Depending on the extent of the damage, Dr. Murray may recommend dental bonding to reshape or reattach a chipped piece using tooth-colored material, or a dental crown to cap and protect a cracked tooth. Veneers can smooth over damage on the front of a tooth, while a bridge or dental implant can replace a tooth that’s been lost entirely. For patients who feel anxious about dental visits, OKC Smiles offers sedation dentistry, including options for kids, along with comfortable amenities and advanced technology designed to make treatment efficient and stress-free.
Call Dr. Murray at OKC Smiles Today
If you break a tooth on a sweet treat, act quickly: protect the area, avoid further chewing, and call a dentist right away. OKC Smiles proudly serves patients throughout Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore. Schedule your appointment today and get ready to show off your smile again.
Contact OKC Smiles:
405-634-7303