What are Tooth Injuries

Tooth injuries (tooth trauma) are injuries that include:

• Cracked or broken teeth (fractures).
• Teeth that have been moved out of place or dislodged (luxations).
• Knocked-out teeth (avulsions).

A tooth injury often needs to be treated quickly to save the tooth. If it is not possible to save a tooth after an injury, the tooth may need to be taken out (extracted).

Tooth injuries may be caused by any force that is strong enough to chip, break, dislodge, or knock out a tooth.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were given an antibiotic medicine, use it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking the medicine even if you start to feel better.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If told, apply ice to your mouth near the injured tooth:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Gargle with a salt-water mixture 3–4 times a day. To make this, dissolve ½–1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
• Check the injured area every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid, blood, or pus.

General instructions

• Do not eat or chew on very hard objects. These include ice cubes, pens, pencils, hard candy, and popcorn.
• Do not use your teeth to open packages.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These may delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
• Do not clench or grind your teeth. Tell your doctor if you grind your teeth while you sleep.
• Eat only soft foods as told by your doctor.
• Brush your teeth gently as told by your doctor.
• Always wear mouth guard when you play contact sports.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if you:

• Continue to have tooth pain after taking medicine.
• Have pus near the injured tooth.
• Develop swelling near your injured tooth.
• Have a tooth splint and it becomes loose.
• Have a lose tooth.

Get help right away if:

• Your face swells.
• You have a fever.
• You have bleeding near the tooth that does not stop after 10 minutes.
• You have trouble swallowing.
• You are not able to open your mouth.
• Your tooth comes out.

Summary

• Tooth injuries are injuries that are strong enough to cause a tooth to chip, break, dislodge, or come out.
• Treatment may need to be done quickly to save your tooth.
• Your doctor will tell you how to care for your injured tooth. He or she will tell you how to take medicines and how to check for infection.
• Call your doctor if there is bleeding or swelling near the injured tooth, or if you have a fever.