I’ve tried those numbing gels a couple times, but honestly they just made my tongue feel weird and didn’t do much for the tooth pain. Most of the time I just try to avoid chewing on that side and stick to soft foods until I can get it checked out. I get what you mean about being nervous with home stuff—some of those kits freak me out way more than the chip itself. Just doesn’t feel worth the risk, you know?
That’s pretty much my approach too—soft foods and just trying not to mess with it until I can see a dentist. But I always wonder, is it actually okay to wait a few days if it’s not hurting too bad? I get nervous about the cost if I rush in, but also don’t want to make things worse. Have you ever tried one of those temporary filling kits, or do you just stick it out?
But I always wonder, is it actually okay to wait a few days if it’s not hurting too bad? I get nervous about the cost if I rush in, but also don’t want to make things worse.
I totally get that worry. My kid chipped a tooth last year, and we waited about three days since there was no pain—just kept her on soft foods and avoided anything too hot or cold. Dentist said we did the right thing as long as there was no swelling or severe pain. We haven’t tried those temp kits, though... I’m always a little skeptical about them with kids. If it’s not hurting and there’s no sharp edge cutting your mouth, waiting a couple days seems okay in my experience. Just keep an eye out for any changes.
- I chipped a tooth on a popcorn kernel once (classic move, right?), and honestly, my main concern was if I could still eat pizza. Priorities.
- Waited two days because it didn’t hurt and wasn’t jagged. Just felt weird running my tongue over it, but no pain or bleeding.
- My dentist said as long as you’re not in pain, there’s no swelling, and you’re not slicing your tongue open every time you talk, waiting a couple days is usually fine. They did say to avoid super crunchy/hard stuff, though—so yeah, soft foods for the win.
- The only time I’d rush in would be if the tooth is super sharp or there’s nerve pain (like cold stuff makes you want to cry). That’s when things can get ugly fast.
- About those temp filling kits... tried one once and ended up with more of it stuck to my molar than actually covering the chip. Maybe I just have bad aim? Wouldn’t trust them for kids either.
- Cost is always on my mind too. Dental bills are wild. If it’s not an emergency, waiting a bit until you can get an appointment seems reasonable.
I guess my “method” is: check for pain/swelling, eat soft food, avoid extremes in temperature, and don’t poke at it too much (easier said than done). If anything changes—pain shows up or swelling starts—I’d call the dentist ASAP. Otherwise… just keep calm and try not to bite into anything tougher than mashed potatoes for a few days.
I can relate to the “running your tongue over it” thing—it’s oddly distracting, even if it doesn’t hurt. I chipped a molar a couple years back (not popcorn, just bit down weird on a tortilla chip), and I remember being torn between ignoring it and panicking that it’d get worse if I waited.
“My dentist said as long as you’re not in pain, there’s no swelling, and you’re not slicing your tongue open every time you talk, waiting a couple days is usually fine.”
That lines up with what I was told too. I did end up waiting about three days before seeing my dentist, mostly because of scheduling. The main thing I noticed was a new sensitivity to cold drinks—nothing unbearable, but enough to make me nervous. That’s when I decided not to push my luck. Cost factored in too... dental bills are rough if you don’t have great insurance.
I tried one of those temp filling kits once, but honestly, the stuff just stuck to my teeth in all the wrong places and tasted weird. Not sure I’d trust them again unless I had no other option.
If there’s no pain or swelling, monitoring it seems reasonable, but if any new symptoms pop up, it’s probably worth at least calling the dentist. Sometimes waiting is okay, but nerves are no joke if they get exposed.