As delicious a treat as candy can be, it can also be hazardous for some. This Halloween, keep your dental health in mind. Continue reading to find out what you should do if a dental emergency occurs while snacking on a sweet treat.

Chipping a tooth, crown, or veneer

Many candies can cause you to chip a tooth, crown, or veneer; not just hard candy. Especially if you have molars that have large restorations, as they are more susceptible to chipping or cracking. If you chip a tooth, crown, or veneer while eating candy, contact your dentist to have it repaired. Any tooth that has been previously filled should be fixed as soon as possible as well.

Small chips usually do not require immediate attention, as they are usually just a cosmetic issue. Larger chips should be attended to promptly as they weaken tooth structure and may create more problems the longer you leave them alone. In these cases, the longer you leave the chip, the greater the chance that the filling may come out. Depending on the size of the restoration and the size of the chip, a crown may be the best way to restore the tooth.

Pulling out a filling or crown

Taffies and other sticky candies have the potential to pull out a filling or a crown. When a filling or crown is pulled out by candy, it means that the restoration was most likely failing and needed to be replaced. When you pull out a filling or a crown, contact your dental care provider as soon as possible.

If you pull out a crown, keep the crown as your dentist may be able to recement it. If there is no post sticking out of the crown, you may use dental cement from CVS or Walgreens to place the crown back on your tooth until you can get in to see your dentist. Fillings, on the other hand, are not able to be placed back in teeth – the area will be cleaned and new material will be used to create a new restoration. Depending on the size of the filling that came out, an onlay or inlay may be needed. Avoid chewing on the side with the missing crown or filling until you can have it replaced.

Cracking a tooth

Hard candies, nutty candy, and candies that have been frozen have the potential to crack a tooth. Again, teeth that have large restorations are more prone to cracking than natural teeth. A cracked tooth may be hard to recognize as the pain from a cracked tooth may be intermittent. If you suspect that you have a cracked tooth, schedule an appointment with your dentist.

You should keep track of what causes your tooth sensitivity. Hot or cold temperatures, sweet or sour foods, and pressure may all cause tooth sensitivity. Let your dentist know what you find so that he can more accurately diagnose your condition. Our Evanston dentists also have tests they can run to help them diagnose a cracked tooth as well as intraoral cameras which may allow them to see the fracture. Depending on the size of the fracture, a cracked tooth can be repaired using an onlay or a crown.

Dental emergencies can happen at any time. Our Evanston dentists are always available through our emergency line at (847) 864-8151. Being aware of what can cause a dental emergency is one of the best ways to prevent them.

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