How to Stop a Broken Tooth from Cutting Your Mouth
A broken tooth can very quickly become an unintentional instrument of torture for your tongue if not dealt with post-haste. When teeth are intact, you may not realise it, but your tongue is forever in contact with them, especially when you speak. Unfortunately, this means that any sharp edges created when a tooth was broken will cut your tongue whenever you eat, swallow or speak. This makes for a very painful situation. If your dental appointment isn't until next week, then unless you can do something about the sharp edges of your broken tooth, it is going to be a very long week.
Small cuts and abrasions can also become infected, leaving you in constant pain. So what can you do about your broken tooth while you wait for dental treatment? Fortunately, there are several things you can do to ensure your broken tooth doesn't cut your tongue to ribbons.
Purchase Some Dental Wax
Dental wax or orthodontic wax is used by brace-wearers to protect their tongue, lips and cheeks from irritation. It can do the same for your broken tooth. First, make sure your tooth and the area adjacent to it are dry. Then roll the dental wax into a ball between your thumb and forefinger before covering the sharp point with it.
Of course, the earlier you do this the better.
Use Some Temporary Filling Material
Go to your local pharmacy and ask for temporary filling material. This material can be placed into or over a broken tooth, where it will set, much like the composite resin a dentist uses when filling a tooth. Apply it, and then help shape it by biting down so that the material forms to the shape of your tooth.
This is a good temporary fix; however, you still need to get to your dentist to check the extent of the damage to your tooth.
Apply Some Canker Sore Paste to the Sharp Edge
If nothing else is at hand, canker sore paste can also act as a temporary protective covering. Like dental wax, this paste requires a dry area and once applied, will harden to provide a sticky but relief-bringing layer of protection.
Even if your dental appointment isn't for another week, by using these methods, you can keep your tongue protected from lacerations. As far as the tooth itself, if the damage is severe you should consider having the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant. If you would rather keep the tooth, crown lengthening, whereby the gum tissue surrounding the tooth is lowered, is an option, followed by a dental crown.
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