How to Dull a Sharp Tooth

Teeth are extremely strong, but they can sometimes sustain damage in accidents or when extreme force is applied to them. They get broken or chipped and the leftover tooth is sometimes sharp or jagged.

This can be very comfortable as it might be hurting your tongue or cheek. Broken or chipped teeth need to be fixed by a dentist.

However, if you don't have access to a dentist or your appointment is scheduled for much later, there are some ways you can dull the broken tooth at home.

Here are the most common ways to dull a sharp tooth:

Filling

Sometimes dentists put in a temporary filling. It is meant as a placeholder for a dental crown or permanent filling. It is safe to use the same material to cover your sharp tooth so that it doesn't cut your cheek or tongue.

You don't need to go to the dentist for this. Most pharmacies have a temporary filling. It is like putty and doesn't need any preparation. Just break off a small piece and roll it till it becomes a small ball.

Stand in front of a mirror so you can get a proper look at the tooth. Press the ball of putty around the broken tooth. Remember to bite down on the putty for a couple of minutes so it is in line with your natural bite.

This works perfectly as a temporary measure to dull a sharp tooth till you can get to an emergency dentist.

Wax

Dental wax is made of beeswax or paraffin. If you've ever had braces, you must have used dental wax to cover the sharp edges on the wires to protect the inside of your mouth.

In the same way, it can be used to cover up a sharp tooth to prevent it from cutting the insides of your mouth.

Just take a small piece, roll it up and press it onto the sharp tooth. Bite down so that the wax registers your natural bite and doesn't interfere with it.

It will get flaky and dislodge from the tooth when you are eating or drinking. This is okay, because it is safe to consume. You can even find flavored dental wax in some brands.

When it wears off, just reapply it the same way. You will need to keep reapplying it throughout the day. It is a feasible measure to protect your tongue and cheeks for a few days till you can see a dentist.

Chewing Gum

This is only used when you are only hours away from your dentist appointment and need a very temporary fix. Don't try to use it as a long-term solution.

Get some sugar-free chewing gum and chew a small piece of it. When it is malleable, press it onto the sharp part of the tooth. Make sure that it is sugar-free gum, otherwise, it will cause more complications.

This solution lasts a few hours at best. It is best to avoid eating food or drinking anything while you are using chewing gum to cover up your tooth. You might swallow it accidentally and choke on it.

In-Office Treatments for Sharp Teeth

How your dentist will treat the sharp tooth depends on how the tooth broke. Here are some ways dentists treat sharp teeth:

• Bonding or Filling: If only a small piece broke off the tooth, it can be fixed with a permanent filling. When the broken tooth is in the front and very visible, a composite resin that matches the color of your teeth is used instead.
• Crown or Cap: This is used when a bigger chunk of the tooth is broken off. The dentist will first grind down the remaining sharp edge and a crown or cap in the shape of the tooth will be applied to keep the remaining part of the tooth safe.
• Veneers: If any of your front teeth are chipped or broken, getting veneers makes it look like your teeth are whole and healthy. Veneers are either made of composite resin or porcelain and are used to replace the missing part of the tooth.

Parting Thoughts

If your tooth is broken and a sharp edge remains and you can't immediately get to a dentist, any of the above methods will help save your cheek or tongue from getting hurt on the jagged edge.

Sometimes people try to file down their sharp teeth to make them dull. This is a very risky idea and might make the situation worse. Employ non-invasive methods of protecting your mouth from the sharp tooth and see a dentist as soon as possible.