Why You Should Never Ignore a Chipped Tooth
A lot of us end up with a chipped tooth at one point in our lives. Something as simple as tripping and falling can lead to a chipped tooth. According to the AAPD, about 10 to 39% of all dental injuries in children, mostly surrounding chipped and broken teeth, are linked to sports-related accidents. It’s often easier to put chipped teeth on the back burner. However, there are a lot of issues that can arise from ignoring a chipped tooth. Let’s explore why you should have a chipped tooth treated by a dentist as soon as possible.
1. Infection
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why you should never ignore a chipped tooth is infection. While a chip may seem to be minor, it can actually be a deeper chip. A deeper chip opens up your tooth to the risk of infection, allowing bacteria to enter the tooth. When bacteria enter the tooth, it can affect the pulp and root of the tooth, ultimately becoming an abscess down the line in some cases.
At a minimum, this can cause incredibly painful toothaches. However, infections can also lead to root canals and extractions, and in some cases can even lead to blood infections. These can become quite severe in the long term.
2. Tooth Senitivity
If your tooth is chipped, it can eventually begin to decay more rapidly. While you may not immediately visually notice this decay, it will often cause the tooth to become sensitive. Additionally, a chip is essentially taking away tooth enamel, which may expose the nerve. This creates pain and can make it difficult for you to eat. Everything from hot to cold foods, as well as acidic food and drinks and even just mere pressure, can trigger this sensitivity when the tooth is chipped.
3. Cuts
A chipped tooth is actually a jagged edge. When you eat, your chipped tooth can create small cuts in your mouth. Not only is this painful, but it also opens your mouth up to long-term irritation and even infection.
Don’t avoid fixing your chipped teeth. Tend to the problem as soon as it occurs, and you’ll be much healthier and your smile will be brighter, too. Visit Hudson Family Dental today!