Dos and Donts When You Have A Cracked Molar

February 01, 2024, Avenue Dental

A cracked molar can cause serious problems if you don’t get it treated, such as infection, tooth loss, nerve damage, or abscess.

You need to act fast and see a dentist as soon as you notice any symptoms of a cracked molar, such as pain, sensitivity, swelling, or trouble chewing.

In this post, I will give some tips on what to do and what to avoid when you have a cracked molar, to cope with the situation and prevent more damage.

DOs: When You Have A Cracked Molar

Schedule a Dental Appointment ASAP

The first and most important thing to do when you have a cracked molar is to make a dental appointment as soon as possible. A dentist can check your tooth and find out how bad and what kind of crack it is, and suggest the best way to treat it.

Depending on how bad the crack is, you may need a filling, a crown, a root canal, or an extraction. The sooner you get it treated, the better your chances of keeping your tooth and avoiding complications.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Avoid brushing or flossing too hard or too aggressively this can irritate or worsen the crack by. Also avoid using toothpicks or other sharp objects to clean your teeth, as they can damage tooth enamel and gums.

Use a Mouthwash

Use either a warm salt water rinse or an antiseptic mouthwash, such as chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide, as your dentist advises.

A mouthwash can help lower bacteria, inflammation, and pain in your mouth, and help it heal.

Apply a Cold Compress

If cracked molar makes your cheek or jaw swell or inflame, you can apply a cold compress to the area. It helps lower the swelling and pain by shrinking the blood vessels and numbing the nerves.

Just get an ice pack, a frozen gel pack, or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel, and hold it against your cheek for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day, as needed.

Eat Soft Foods

Eat soft, plain foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Like yogurt, soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pudding, and smoothies.

Also cut food into small pieces and chew on the other side of your mouth, to avoid making the crack worse.

Consider Getting a Mouthguard

If you have a habit of grinding your teeth, also known as bruxism, consider using a mouthguard to protect your teeth from more damage. A mouthguard is a custom-made device that fits over your teeth and stops them from rubbing against each other.

It helps lower the stress and pressure on your jaw muscles and joints, which can cause tooth cracking. You can get a mouthguard from a dentist, or buy a ready-made one from a pharmacy or online.

DON’Ts: When You Have A Cracked Molar

DON’T Ignore the Pain

One of the worst things a peson can do when they a cracked molar is to ignore the pain and hope it will go away. Ignoring the pain can lead to more serious problems, such as infection, tooth loss, nerve damage, or abscess.

DON’T Delay Seeking Professional Help

Another mistake people make when they have a cracked molar is to delay seeking professional help. You may think that the crack is not that bad, or that you can fix it yourself with some home remedies. However, this can turn into a dangerous and costly mistake.

A cracked molar is not something that you treat on your own, it requires specialized dental care and equipment. The longer you wait to see a dentist, the worse the crack can get, and the more complicated and expensive the treatment can be.

DON’T Chew on Hard Foods

Hard, chewy, or sticky foods can worsen the crack or cause it to break completely. Some examples of hard foods are nuts, seeds, popcorn, ice, candy, jerky, and hard bread.

These types of foods put too much pressure on your tooth and cause it to crack further or split into pieces. This can expose the nerve and pulp of your tooth, which can cause severe pain and infection.

DON’T Consume Hot Beverages

Avoid consuming very hot or cold beverages, like coffee, tea, soda, or ice water. These beverages can trigger sensitivity and pain in your tooth, as they can reach the nerve and pulp through the crack.

Opt for foods and drinks that are at room temperature or slightly warm, to avoid irritating your tooth.

DON’T Use Over-the-counter Numbing Agents Directly

You may be tempted to use over-the-counter numbing agents, such as benzocaine or lidocaine, directly on your cracked molar, to relieve the pain. However, this is not a good idea, as it can have some bad consequences.

First, numbing agents can mask the pain and make you think that the problem is solved, when it is not. This can delay you from seeking professional help and worsen the situation.

Second, numbing agents can interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of your tooth, as they can affect the nerve response and the bonding of the filling or crown.

Third, numbing agents can cause allergic reactions, irritation, or burns on your gums and tongue, if used excessively or improperly.

So, don’t use over-the-counter numbing agents directly on your cracked molar, and consult your dentist for the best pain relief options.

DON’T Try Home Remedies

You may have heard of some home remedies that claim to fix or heal a cracked molar, such as using super glue, baking soda, vinegar, or garlic. However, these home remedies are not only ineffective, but also potentially harmful.

Home remedies can damage tooth enamel and gums, and cause more pain and infection. They can also interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of your tooth, and make it harder for your dentist to save your tooth.

Conclusion

A cracked molar is a serious dental problem that requires immediate attention and professional care. If you have a cracked molar, follow these dos and don’ts to manage the situation and prevent further damage.

By following these tips, you can improve your chances of saving tooth and avoiding complications. Remember, a cracked molar is not something to take lightly, and the sooner get it treated, the better.

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