Broken or Chipped Tooth: First Aid

A broken or chipped tooth can happen in a moment, from a fall, a sports knock, biting a very hard object, or an old filling giving way. The damage may be tiny and painless, or it may be large, sharp, and sensitive to air, cold, or pressure. Judging the size of the break, whether the inner part of the tooth is exposed, and whether there is pain or swelling helps you decide how quickly to seek dental care.

This guide explains how to protect a broken or chipped tooth, what to do with any piece that has come off, and which signs mean a prompt call rather than a routine appointment. General information here is not medical advice, and a dentist who examines the tooth can judge how deep the break is and what repair it needs. If there is a serious injury, heavy bleeding, or trouble breathing, seek urgent medical care first.

First steps for a broken or chipped tooth

• Rinse the mouth gently with warm water to clear debris, and rinse any piece that came off without scrubbing it.
• Save the piece in milk or clean water and bring it to the visit, even if it looks too small to use.
• Cover a sharp edge with a small piece of soft dental wax or sugar-free chewing gum if it is cutting the cheek or tongue.
• Avoid biting on the broken tooth, and avoid very hot, cold, sweet, or hard foods on that side.

If the tooth is painful, sensitive to air, or visibly cracked down toward the gum, call promptly rather than waiting to see whether it settles. A small chip with no pain can often wait for a routine appointment, but a break that exposes the inner tooth, causes throbbing pain, or follows a strong blow should be checked urgently. When you call, describe the size of the break, any pain or sensitivity, and whether a piece is missing.

Sharp edges, sensitivity, and swelling

A sharp edge can cut the tongue or cheek each time you speak or eat, and repeated cuts can become sore and swollen. Covering the edge temporarily helps, but it is not a repair, and the tooth still needs checking. Sensitivity to cold that fades quickly is different from lingering pain after heat, constant throbbing, or pain when biting, which can suggest deeper damage inside the tooth that needs urgent attention.

Watch for swelling around the gum, a bad taste, or a fever in the days after a break, because a cracked tooth can let bacteria reach the inner tooth and cause infection. Swelling that spreads, trouble opening the mouth, or trouble swallowing needs urgent medical care. Note when symptoms change, because a tooth that felt fine at first can become painful later if a crack deepens or infection develops.

Children, sports, and hard foods

Children often chip teeth in falls or play, and a chipped baby tooth still deserves a dental check, even if the child seems unbothered. A dentist can check whether the tooth below is affected and whether the chip will irritate the lip or tongue. For sports, a mouthguard lowers the risk of broken teeth, and a separate guide explains how mouthguards work and how to keep one in good shape.

Hard foods, ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, and using teeth to open packaging all raise the risk of chips and cracks, especially for teeth with large fillings or previous repairs. Cutting food into smaller pieces, avoiding ice chewing, and never using teeth as tools are simple habits that protect teeth. If a tooth has broken once, a dentist can also check neighbouring teeth, because the same blow may have cracked more than one.

What a dentist may check at the visit

At a visit, a dentist will usually look at the break, check the bite, and test whether the tooth is sensitive to cold or pressure. An X-ray may be needed to see whether a crack reaches the root or whether the inner tooth is affected. Treatment depends on the size and depth of the break, and may range from smoothing a small chip to a filling, a crown, or another repair for a larger break.

Bring the saved piece, note when the break happened and how it happened, and mention any pain, sensitivity, or swelling since then. Ask what foods to avoid until the repair, how to care for the tooth, and what signs should prompt another call. A clear description helps the dentist judge the tooth quickly and choose a repair that protects it.

Related emergency dental help

• Broken or Fractured Tooth
• Chipped Tooth
• Dental Bonding

See the full Emergency Dental Services list for other urgent topics besides Broken or Chipped Tooth: First Aid, or Contact Emergency Dentist for general enquiries. For urgent help, call.

Related emergency dental help

Learn more about the topics covered in this guide:

• Broken or Fractured Tooth
• Chipped Tooth

More guides:

• Knocked-Out Tooth: First Minutes
• Sports Mouthguard: Preventing Injuries

Frequently asked questions

Can a small chip wait for a routine appointment?

A tiny chip with no pain, sharp edge, or sensitivity often can, but a dentist should still check it. Call promptly if pain, sensitivity, a sharp edge, or swelling appears.

Should I keep the broken piece?

Yes. Rinse it gently, keep it moist in milk or clean water, and bring it to the visit. A dentist can judge whether it can be used, even if it looks small.

What if the broken tooth hurts when I bite?

Pain on biting can suggest a deeper crack or damage inside the tooth. Avoid biting on that tooth and call promptly for an urgent check.

Please treat this page as general information about Broken or Chipped Tooth: First Aid, not medical advice. A dentist who examines you can give advice for your situation.