Teeth are strong however they can break or chip probably due to biting into something hard, when you fall or if you are hit. When this happens you need to take the necessary steps to ensure that you do not lose your tooth completely. There are certain things that you should do once you break your tooth.
Immediately you break a tooth, it is essential to rinse your mouth with warm water. This removes any blood that may be in the mouth. After rinsing your mouth, if there is still some bleeding put a piece of gauze on the bleeding area until the bleeding stops.
Once you have stopped the bleeding, you can inspect the damage caused on the tooth. If it is a minor chip, which has led to removal of the enamel you may not need to see the doctor immediately. If however you have a cracked tooth that has exposed the nerves, you will need to see a dentist immediately. In the meantime, you can use a painkiller to reduce the pain you may be feeling.
If the tooth has been knocked out, you have to see a dentist immediately. This is because the dentist can be able to put the tooth back but this can only happen within 24 hours. You can transport the tooth by putting it down on the socket and biting on a piece of gauze or you can put it in a container with some milk or saliva. This is to ensure that the tooth remains alive during transportation.
How one should handle a broken tooth is different. The handling procedure and treatment will depend greatly on the damage. Extensive damage to the tooth means that you should see an urgent care dentist in Baltimore immediately after breaking the tooth.