What Causes Tooth Trauma?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What Causes a Bruised Tooth? Just like a bodily bruise, trauma or injury typically causes a bruised tooth. The dental trauma could result from

biting down on a hard object

(like hard candy), grinding your teeth, or sustaining a sports injury or any blow to the mouth.

What is trauma to a tooth?

What is dental trauma? Dental trauma is

physical injury to the teeth

, gums, the alveolar bone (the bone that holds the tooth sockets), or the soft tissue of the mouth, including the lips and tongue. There are several types of injury that fall under the category of dental trauma, including the following: Chipped tooth.

Can a tooth heal after trauma?

Unfortunately,

dental trauma can happen to anyone at any time

. Regardless of the cause, victims of dental trauma have a better chance of recovery if they act quickly and get the treatment they need right away.

How do you identify tooth trauma?

  1. A tooth that is cracked, chipped, loose, out of place, or missing.
  2. A sharp or rough edge on your tooth.
  3. Bleeding from your gums, lips, face, or mouth.
  4. Trouble moving your jaw or mouth.
  5. A change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth.

How long does it take for dental trauma to heal?

Immediate attendance at a dentist to receive local anaesthetic is therefore essential to allow this repositioning procedure. A splint is then required, and in this case the bone takes

4-6 weeks

to heal and for reparative bone to form around the fractures. Antibiotics are best given to prevent any post-trauma infection.

What happens if you get hit in the tooth?

Trauma or injury to your tooth is one possible

cause for a tooth to die

. For example, getting hit in the mouth with a soccer ball or tripping and hitting your mouth against something can cause your tooth to die. A tooth may die quickly, in a matter of days, or slowly, over several months or years.

What happens when your tooth gets hit?

External oral trauma can be quite painful and most often strikes as a shock. While most oral injuries occur due to sports-related accidents, they may also happen due to a bad fall, taking a hard blow to the mouth, etc. A knocked off tooth can cause severe pain and also

bleeding

, and the patient may start to panic.

How do you know if your tooth is infected?

  1. Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, neck or ear.
  2. Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
  3. Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting.
  4. Fever.
  5. Swelling in your face or cheek.
  6. Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck.

Is it too late to save my teeth?


People

can go weeks, months, and even years without taking care of their teeth but that doesn’t mean that it is too late to start. Although neglecting your teeth for long periods can cause irreparable damage, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost.

What does a dead tooth feel like?


Pain

, which can range from almost unnoticeable to excruciating. A bad taste or bad smell resulting from an infection. Swelling. A change in the tooth’s color; a dead tooth will often darken.

What to do if you hit your tooth and its loose?


Call your dentist

and have your child seen immediately. If the tooth is extremely loose, crooked, or dangling from the socket this is an emergency and they need to be seen ASAP. If the tooth is still straight and only slightly loose, they still need to be seen by their dentist within an hour of the accident.

How do you know if your tooth pulp is damaged?

Depending on the severity of the damage to the pulp, the symptoms may vary, but they will typically include:

Tooth sensitivity and pain

, especially when you eat something that’s hot, cold or very sweet. A sudden and unexplainable, sharp pain in your mouth. In worse cases, infection in your mouth may also occur.

What happens if half of your tooth breaks off?

If your tooth cracks in half, call your dental office immediately to set up an appointment. Make sure to let them know, your tooth is cracked in half. A broken tooth is not something you should put off. It

could get worse and become infected

.

Should I go to the dentist if I hit my tooth?

Immediate dental attention needed

Time is of the essence in any tooth trauma – whether it’s bumped, knocked out or chipped – and it’s important to see

a dentist or endodontist as soon as possible

because quick action will increase the chances of saving the tooth, according to the American Association of Endodontists.

Can you leave a dead tooth in your mouth?

A dead or dying tooth left in the mouth may not do a whole lot of immediate damage right off the bat, but leaving it in for

too long can cause other teeth to rot

and even cause problems and unwanted issues with your jaw.

Does a dead tooth smell?

While bacteria mainly cause tooth decay, it can also lead to tooth decay in other parts of the body.

A decaying tooth results in a foul smell

. If you develop bad breath or notice an odd odor coming from your mouth, you might have one or several rotten teeth.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.