• No home remedy can permanently repair your chipped tooth. However, you can use some methods to achieve a temporary cosmetic effect and protect your soft tissues in your mouth.
  • Do not attempt to make a tooth filling at home.
  • See a dentist as soon as possible to get proper treatment for your chipped tooth.
  • Trust us when you need urgent dental help. Use Authority Dental to find and book walk-in emergency dentists near you.

Have you just chipped your tooth? Here's everything you need to know.

Temporary chipped tooth repair

To increase the chance of your long-term prognosis, you should get professional treatment as soon as possible. Treating the affected area can help prevent further issues such as decay or infection. If you cannot see your doctor right away, you may benefit from the following temporary solutions.

Chipped tooth repair kit

Temporary tooth repair kits can be handy for repairing broken anterior teeth. You can use them to perform DIY tooth countering. Emergency kits have a special material that can be molded to hide tissue loss.

Such a kit can effectively improve the appearance. It also protects your tongue and cheeks from sharp edges.

Remember not to bite with the temporarily repaired tooth. This is not a permanent solution, but it can provide some aesthetic benefits before you are able to see your provider. 

Harry Lee, DMD, warns about using repair kits: ”In the age of social media, one of the most worrying trends I have seen as a dentist is the rise of DIY tooth "repair" hacks and videos recorded by non-professionals. Patients see a small chip and think they can fix it themselves with a kit from the pharmacy or, even worse, a nail file. Please, do not do this.”

”Those temporary kits are intended solely to cover a sharp edge and protect your tongue—that is it,” he emphasizes.

”They are not fillings. Sealing a chip with temporary cement or, even worse, superglue, can trap bacteria inside the tooth, creating a perfect environment for decay where the tooth is most vulnerable,” Lee explains. ”A chipped tooth is a crack in your body's natural armor. Your only job is to keep it clean and see a professional who can properly diagnose the damage and seal it for good,” he adds.

Dental wax

Dental wax is a special type of paraffin wax. It is also available in the form of emergency kits. Short-term dental repair with such a wax does not improve the visual appearance. However, it does protect the soft tissues in your mouth. It can also temporarily reduce tooth sensitivity.

At-home remedies for a chipped tooth

No home remedies can repair your injured teeth. Still, they can help reduce painful sensations.

To relieve pain and inflammation, you can use over-the-counter ibuprofen-based pain relievers. Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen, can be used to aid in pain management. Do not take any medications without approval from your medical provider prior to taking such medication. 

Some natural remedies may also aid in dental pain. Apply clove oil to sore gums with a swab or a cotton ball. Peppermint tea has a natural antimicrobial effect. It is also effective in preventing dental infections.

over the counter pain relief

Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0 license

What not to do with a chipped tooth at home?

Do not attempt to pull out a damaged tooth. Seek emergent dental care if the pain becomes severe.  If the tooth appears severely damaged, leave the remaining tooth structure intact and consult with your dental provider. Your dentist will evaluate to determine if sufficient tooth structure remains for repair. 

Do not use cosmetic impression material to fill the inner parts of your broken tooth. Repair kits offer materials suitable only for external countering. If you put them in the tooth, it can be challenging for a professional to treat it later. Only certified medical materials are suitable for dental fillings.

Never file your broken teeth. Filing your teeth can increase damage and cause further reduction in tooth structure. Filling can increase sensitivity and make the tooth more vulnerable to bacteria.

Harry Lee

Harry Lee, DMD

I always tell my patients to think of a tooth like a smartphone. The hard, white enamel is like the glass screen—it is tough, but once it is breached, the sensitive electronics underneath are exposed. That yellowish layer under your enamel, called dentin, is alive and full of microscopic tubules that lead straight to the nerve. When you take a file to a chipped tooth, you are not just smoothing a rough edge; you are risking grinding right through that protective enamel and exposing the "live wires." A simple chip can instantly become a painful problem that now needs a root canal.

FAQ

FAQ

Can a chipped tooth heal on its own?

Injured teeth cannot heal. Still, over time, the sensitivity of teeth with small cracks or chips may diminish. A doctor should evaluate and appropriately treat larger chips and cracks. Your dentist will select the most suitable treatment based on the extent of the damage to the tooth. g. Treatment of severely damaged teeth may include fillings, root canal treatment, and dental crowns.

Can I file my teeth with a nail filer?

Do not file your teeth with a nail file or any other household tool. It can cause additional injury to enamel and dentin. You can worsen the condition of cracks if they are present in the tooth structure. See your dentist to determine if they can polish the rough edges.

Is it OK to leave a chipped tooth?

Relatively minor damage does not cause any inconvenience. It will not significantly affect the health of your tooth. However, it is recommended that you visit your dentist to ensure that there are no hidden cracks.