What to Do If You Chip or Break a Tooth

Chipping or breaking a tooth is surprisingly common — biting something hard, a fall, a sports injury or an old filling giving way. What you do in the first hours can make a difference to comfort and to treatment options.

The short answer

Rinse your mouth gently, keep any broken fragment in milk or saliva, control bleeding with gauze, use a cold compress for swelling, cover sharp edges if needed, and contact your dentist. Severe pain, a visible pink or red spot in the tooth, or a knocked-out tooth need prompt attention.

Immediate steps

1. Rinse gently with lukewarm water.
2. Save fragments. Keep any broken piece in milk or your own saliva. Sometimes it can be bonded back.
3. Control bleeding by pressing gently with clean gauze.
4. Reduce swelling with a cold compress on the outside of the face.
5. Cover sharp edges with sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax to protect your tongue and cheek.
6. Pain relief: over-the-counter pain relief, used as directed, can help.
7. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth and very hot or cold food.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out

This is a dental emergency:

• Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root
• If dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline — do not scrub
• If possible, gently place it back in its socket and bite on a cloth
• If not, store it in milk or in your cheek
• See a dentist immediately — ideally within an hour

Do not re-implant baby teeth.

When it is urgent

Seek prompt care if:

• You have severe or worsening pain
• You can see a pink or red spot in the broken tooth, which may be the pulp
• The tooth is loose or displaced
• There is swelling or bleeding that does not stop
• A permanent tooth has been knocked out

For facial injuries involving the jaw, eye or head, seek emergency medical care.

Types of breaks

• Minor chip: a small piece of enamel lost, often painless
• Larger fracture: involves dentine, may cause sensitivity
• Fracture involving the pulp: often painful and needs urgent treatment
• Cracked tooth: may cause pain on biting
• Split tooth or root fracture: may not be restorable

Repair options

• Composite bonding for small chips
• Reattaching the fragment in some cases
• Veneers for visible front teeth
• Crowns or onlays for larger fractures
• Root canal treatment when the pulp is involved
• Extraction when the tooth cannot be restored

See Broken Tooth Repair.

Preventing breaks

• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports
• Avoid chewing ice, hard sweets and non-food items
• Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
• Have large, old fillings assessed

Conclusion

A chipped or broken tooth can usually be repaired, especially when assessed promptly. Follow the first-aid steps above and contact your dentist. For urgent problems, see our emergency dental care page.