Broken or cracked tooth: what to do straight away and how it is treated
If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water, keep the broken piece in milk or water if you can find it, and see a dentist the same day. If the whole tooth has been knocked out, it is an emergency: putting it back in the socket without touching the root, or keeping it in milk and reaching a dentist within the first hour, greatly improves the chance of saving it.
What should you do the moment a tooth breaks?
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
- If there is bleeding, press a clean gauze pad or tissue on it for 10 minutes.
- Find the broken piece and keep it in a container of milk or water so it does not dry out.
- Hold something cold against your cheek to limit swelling.
- If a sharp edge is cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with sugar-free gum or dental wax from a pharmacy.
- Do not chew on that side, avoid hot and cold, and see a dentist the same day.
What if the whole tooth is knocked out?
A permanent tooth knocked completely out of its socket (avulsion) is one of the true dental emergencies; minutes matter.
- Hold the tooth by the crown (the part you normally see), not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in milk or water; do not scrub or dry it.
- If you can, push it back into the socket and bite on a clean tissue to hold it in place.
- If not, carry it in a glass of milk or, for adults, inside the cheek in saliva.
- Get to a dentist without delay, ideally within the first hour.
Baby teeth are not put back, as this can damage the permanent tooth underneath. The child still needs to be seen the same day.
How is each type of break treated?
| Type of break | Signs | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Fine crack lines in the enamel | Usually none | Usually no treatment; monitoring |
| Small chipped corner or edge | Rough edge, mild sensitivity | Bonding or a white filling; the fragment can sometimes be reattached |
| Large break not reaching the nerve | Cold sensitivity, obvious loss of tooth | Larger filling, onlay or crown |
| Break reaching the nerve | Pink-red dot, severe pain or bleeding | Root canal treatment followed by a crown |
| Cracked tooth | Sudden pain when biting and releasing | A crown to stop the crack spreading; root canal treatment if needed |
| Vertical root fracture | Pain on biting, recurring swelling | Usually extraction and an implant or bridge |
How do you know if a tooth is cracked?
Cracked teeth often cannot be seen by eye or on an X-ray. The classic sign is a short, sharp pain when biting on something hard or when releasing the bite; cold sensitivity may come with it. Cracks are more common in teeth with large fillings and in people who clench.
A crack found early can usually be protected with a crown that holds the tooth together. Once it extends into the root, saving the tooth becomes much harder.
How can you prevent broken teeth?
- Do not bite ice, seeds, pens or nails, and do not open packets or bottles with your teeth.
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
- If you clench, wear a night guard.
- Ask your dentist whether back teeth with very large fillings or root canal treatment should be protected with a crown.
Dent32 in Beylikdüzü is open seven days a week; for teeth broken at the weekend, see our weekend appointments.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken tooth an emergency?
See a dentist the same day if the tooth has been knocked out, if there is bleeding or severe pain, or if you can see a pink-red dot in the break. Small painless chips can be repaired within a few days.
Can the broken piece be stuck back on?
If the piece is large, intact and was kept moist, it can often be bonded back in place.
Does a broken tooth heal on its own?
No. Enamel and dentine cannot repair themselves; an untreated break can grow and decay over time.
My child's baby tooth broke. What should I do?
Have it seen the same day. A baby tooth that has been knocked out is not put back, but the permanent tooth underneath needs to be checked.
