Our teeth is one of the strongest things in our body, for some reason they can chip off, fracture or break. Chipped tooth might not result to any pain unless if the chip is too large that the nerves in the inner layer of the tooth were exposed. Inner pulp of the tooth is where the tooth’s blood vessels, nerve, and connective tissues are, the pain can be so excruciating if that area becomes inflamed or infected. Cases like broken or cracked tooth may cause a very painful toothache, because they usually leave the inner pulp of the tooth exposed.
However, minor tooth fractures usually don’t cause pain, the fracture can only hurt if a large piece of the tooth was broken off. You may experience increased tooth sensitivity and tooth pain when chewing if your tooth nerves are exposed or damaged. People with broken or cracked tooth usually complain of constant tooth pain when they chew because chewing puts pressure on the tooth.
Well, the best thing to do if your tooth is broken is to see a dentist for a proper dental examination. Depending on how severe the damage is, your dentist might recommend to use a crown or a dental onlay to restore the shape of the tooth. (1) The dentist will also give you some treatments to prevent further damage or decay. But while waiting for your appointment you can try some of the solutions that I will list here in this article for temporary pain relief.
Things to avoid
For cracked or broken teeth, there are certain things that you will need to avoid in order to keep the pain from worsening. While still waiting for your dentist appointment, try to avoid activities that may exacerbate the cracks in your teeth. It is important to take precautions until you can receive proper dental care, such as a root canal treatment.
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Extreme discomfort and pain can occur when the dental pulp, or nerve endings, in cracked teeth or broken teeth are exposed without any covering. Close contact of the nerves and extreme temperatures from foods and drinks can cause pain. Try as much as possible to stay away from very cold or hot foods and drinks to avoid aggravating a cracked tooth.
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To prevent cracked teeth, it is important to avoid consuming foods and drinks that have high levels of sugar and acid. These substances can irritate the tooth’s nerve and cause damage. If you experience any pain or discomfort, it is recommended to visit a dentist for treatment and pain relief.
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To prevent further damage to your cracked tooth and protect the tooth enamel, it is important to avoid biting on hard foods, candies, and ice. Visit your dentist for treatment of the affected tooth.
How to relieve broken tooth nerve pain
If you have a cracked or broken tooth, it’s crucial to see your dentist promptly. Repairing a damaged tooth at home is impossible, so professional dental care is necessary. In many cases, a damaged tooth nerve will require root canal or endodontic treatment.
The dentist will have to evaluate the tooth in order to identify the actual cause of the damage and also recommend the best way to restore the tooth. In some cases, the tooth has broken or crumbled because a cavity weakened it from the inside out. (2) Here are some of the effective ways to to relieve broken tooth nerve pain at home :
1. Rinse with warm salt water: salt water contains an effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, that will help to remove bacteria from the infected area. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water for at least three times a day can help to ease the pain and discomfort.
2. Cold press: grab an ice pack and hold it over your cheek or lips right above broken tooth. The coldness from the ice will numb the affected area, it will also help to reduce swelling and discomforts.
3. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relief medication: there are certain safe medications that you can take to relieve the pain. It’s advisable that you should avoid taking aspirin. According to a study, it was reported that aspirin can slow blood clotting and cause problems if and when you need a root canal. (3) You can take any other safe OTC dental anesthetic or pain-relief medications such as Orajel (benzocaine), Anbesol (lidocaine), Motrin or Advil ( ibuprofen ) or Tylenol (acetaminophen ).
4. Apply clove oil: for centuries, clove oil has been used widely in dentistry as a natural pain reliever. It has a natural powerful anesthetic effects, this makes it very effective for treating tooth pain and discomforts. All you need to do is to get some pure clove oil and cotton balls. Dip a cotton ball in the oil and hold the soaked cotton ball on the painful tooth for about 20 seconds. You can repeat this remedy as many times as necessary, but ensure not to swallow any of the oil. On one of my previous articles, I explained more on how to use clove oil for tooth pain.