Why did a piece of my tooth break off?
Having a broken tooth can happen to anyone. In general, this type of accident particularly affects children and adolescents. The latter sometimes have bad reflexes, make sudden falls on bicycles, scooters, or motorcycles. Adults, on the other hand, are less affected and immune to this problem. However, these are not the only causes that promote tooth breakage. The solutions to be undertaken depend entirely on the importance of the trauma. Discover in this article, solutions, and practical advice to replace your damaged tooth.
The different causes of a broken tooth
By definition, a broken tooth is the loss of part or all of the visible part of a tooth. There are several situations that favor the fracture of a tooth. Moreover, it is far from being a rare event. You can end up with a cracked tooth in the following cases:
- chewing hard food
- a very violent and intense blow or shock
- an accident or fall on a bicycle, motorcycle, rollerblade, scooter, etc.
- periodontal inflammation
- a deep cavity that devitalizes the tooth, weakens it and makes it friable
- in case of repetitive teeth grinding, if you clench your jaw frequently in an involuntary way
- if the teeth become brittle with age and break easily
One of the common reasons for a broken tooth is its devitalization. This phenomenon is very common when a cavity or other dental condition transforms the tooth into "an eggshell". The inside of the tooth is emptied by decay and the walls become thin, and therefore fragile. A simple piece of bread is enough to break it.
Unlike a tooth that breaks following an accident or a fall, a devitalized tooth breaks little by little until it fractures entirely. Thus, the dentist performs an extraction before placing a new crown. In addition, it is also possible to have the tooth devitalized following a shock. Indeed, if your tooth is fractured at mid-height, it is more susceptible to infections since the healthy part is exposed to the open air.
What do you do if a piece of your tooth breaks off?
The first thing to do if a piece of your tooth breaks off is to recover the piece of tooth. This is so your dentist can try to pick your tooth. Avoid taking it by the root, grab it by the crown. You must immerse it in a sterile saline solution available for sale in pharmacies or in a special dental first aid box. You can also put it in a glass of milk or simply wrap it in plastic or synthetic film. This piece of fractured tooth is still living material, which is why you must take care of it by adopting good hygiene precautions.
If you notice that your tooth has just broken off after eating, keep the piece of tooth that broke off in your mouth. It needs to stay in contact with your saliva. Be careful not to swallow it. It is important not to come into contact with water or a sheet of paper. These elements risk destroying the cells in the pulp of the tooth. However, it is the substance responsible for its good preservation.
Once these precautions are implemented, you need to go to your dentist as soon as possible. Only this specialist will be able to determine whether your broken tooth conceals serious lesions or not, at the level of the root or the pulp. Preferably act within 24 hours after the tooth is cracked. Thus, you increase your chances of being able to reattach it. And you will also have less dental pain.