Broken Tooth on Holiday: What Should You Do?
A knock against a surfboard, accidentally biting into an olive stone, or simply chewing the ice cubes in your Spritz – there are plenty of ways to chip or break a tooth while on holiday! Whether the tooth is slightly chipped or has been knocked out completely, a swift response significantly increases the chances of saving it.
To find out how best to react, we asked Dr. Julie Kohler-Grundman, a dentist, for advice.
Why do teeth break ?
Our teeth are subjected to considerable stress every day. Untreated cavities, bruxism (unconscious grinding or clenching of the teeth), sudden temperature changes, or using your teeth as tools (for example, to open packaging) can weaken them and increase the risk of tooth fractures.
A broken or chipped tooth should never be ignored. Without proper treatment, it can lead to pain, infection, or even tooth loss. Prompt treatment by a professional can often reduce complications and improve the chances of saving a broken or knocked-out tooth.
What should you do if you break a tooth ?
Start by calmly assessing the situation. Bleeding inside the mouth is common and does not always reflect the severity of the injury.
If a fragment of the tooth has come away, retrieve it and ideally store it in a sterile saline solution or, if that is not available, in milk. A dried-out tooth fragment is often much more difficult to reattach. Then gently rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and apply a sterile gauze pad if there is bleeding. You can also apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth to the outside of your cheek to help reduce pain, inflammation and swelling.
Contact your dentist as soon as possible. An urgent appointment is especially important if you experience severe pain, swelling, heavy bleeding, or if the tooth becomes loose.
What if your tooth has been knocked out completely ?
This is the most serious type of dental emergency. When a permanent tooth is completely dislodged, every minute counts for its long-term prognosis. The cells covering the root must remain moist in order to survive. If they dry out, the risk of ankylosis (fusion of the tooth with the bone) increases significantly, potentially leading to serious functional and aesthetic complications.
In this situation too, retrieve the tooth, store it in milk or sterile saline solution, and seek emergency dental care immediately. Your dentist will determine whether the tooth can be successfully replanted.
Is a broken tooth without pain still serious ?
Yes. Even if there is no pain, a fractured tooth remains more vulnerable to decay, infection, and further cracking. A dental examination is therefore recommended in all cases.
While waiting for your appointment…
Opt for soft, lukewarm foods, avoid very hot or very cold drinks, and chew on the side opposite the injured tooth. If you experience pain, paracetamol can help relieve it. A cold compress applied to the outside of the cheek can also reduce inflammation.
Continue to maintain good oral hygiene, but avoid brushing the affected area too vigorously.
What about children ?
A broken primary tooth (baby tooth) should also be examined by a dentist. In addition to preventing infection or pain, the dentist will check whether the injury has affected the developing permanent tooth underneath.
If you break a tooth, the most important thing is to act quickly. Even if there is little or no pain, seeing a dentist can often help prevent complications and increase the chances of saving the tooth. Whether you’re on holiday or going about your daily life, a few simple steps can make all the difference.
