Crunching on ice or a solid piece of food can do it. When you feel a small, hard substance in your mouth that won’t dissolve, you realize a part of your tooth broke off. Besides biting down on something solid, you can chip a tooth after falling or suffering trauma to the mouth or face. Although usually strong, tooth enamel can fail, especially if there is already some decay. Fixing a broken tooth is not something to put off for very long. What may seem like an aesthetic problem can lead to infection or further damage if you don’t take care of it immediately. If you chip a tooth, seek dental care as soon as possible. A dentist at Beckham Square Family Dental can repair your damaged tooth quickly. Before you get to the dentist, you can take some self-care measures, such as rinsing your mouth with salt water. Avoid eating or stick to soft foods, and don’t bite down on the broken tooth. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever if the tooth hurts.