Signs and Symptoms of a Cracked Filling
Sometimes it’s easy to tell when you’ve cracked a filling, sometimes it’s not. Even a cracked filling that is causing you pain might not seem the obvious source of your shooting toothache at first. So, how do you tell if you’ve cracked a filling? Here are some telltale signs:
- Hearing a crack or feeling something hard in your mouth while chewing
- Intermittent or constant pain in the filled tooth
- Gum swelling
- Bad breath
- Sensitivity to temperature, touch, sugar
Here’s the thing: if you ignore these symptoms, you give bacteria and food debris all the time they need to get underneath the filling and start an infection in the tooth, gums or jaw. So, Step #1 for a cracked filling is to call a local emergency dentist to get the tooth cleaned and refilled ASAP.
At-Home Care for a Cracked Filling
Step #2 when you’ve cracked a filling, is properly caring for the filling (and yourself) while you wait to see the dentist. Our best tips for triaging your chipped filling and managing discomfort are:
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Ibuprofen is a good choice, because it reduces pain as well as inflammation, which can be both a cause and symptom of your toothache.
- Numb the area with an oral numbing gel like Orajel. You can find these types of products at any drug or grocery store.
- Kitchen staples like clove oil, vanilla extract and garlic/garlic oil all have anti-microbial properties and relieve discomfort as well.
- Rinse with lukewarm salt water every few hours. Swish gently and spit.
- Avoid any foods that will trigger sensitivity, like too-hot or too-cold, hard, sugary or acidic foods.
- Most drug stores have OTC dental cement, which can serve as a temporary way to protect the exposed tooth and reduce sensitivity.
Toothaches from broken fillings can be absolutely brutal, but these home remedies will help you manage pain and inflammation while you wait to see your local family dentist. Depending on the break, it may end up feeling like the cracked filling didn’t cause you pain at all!