Broken tooth: what to do and when it is urgent

A broken tooth is not always obvious. Some cracks are hard to see and symptoms can change when you bite, drink or release pressure.

• A visible chip, crack, missing corner, split tooth or broken filling.
• A sharp edge catching the tongue, cheek or lip.
• Pain on biting, chewing or releasing the bite.
• Sensitivity to cold, heat, sweet foods or air.
• Pink or red tissue visible inside the break, which may suggest the nerve area is exposed.
• Bleeding from the gum, a loose tooth, a displaced tooth or movement after injury.
• Swelling, bad taste, pus or fever if infection develops.

The cause can affect how urgently the tooth needs assessment and what treatment may be possible.

• Biting something hard or being hit in the mouth.
• Tooth decay weakening the tooth from inside.
• Large, old or loose fillings leaving less tooth structure.
• Grinding or clenching that stresses teeth over time.
• Cracks around crowns, veneers, inlays or other restorations.
• Sports, falls, accidents or facial trauma.

1. 1Contact a dentist for advice, especially if there is pain, sensitivity, bleeding, swelling or a large break.
2. 2Keep any broken piece in milk, saline or water and take it with you if you have it.
3. 3Avoid chewing on the broken tooth and choose soft foods.
4. 4If dentine is exposed or the edge is sharp, ask a dentist or pharmacist about temporary dressing or filling material.
5. 5Use pain relief only if suitable for you and follow the packet instructions. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
6. 6Rinse gently with water, saline or warm salty water if the injury happened recently and you can do so safely. Keep the area clean.
7. 7If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth. Seek urgent help if it will not stop.
8. 8Do not use household glue or non-dental products to reattach a tooth fragment or restoration.
9. 9If a tooth or restoration fragment may have been inhaled, seek emergency medical advice immediately.

A broken tooth may need urgent dental care when pain, trauma, infection risk or function is affected. A small chip with little or no pain may be less urgent but still needs dental review.

• Severe tooth pain, pain on biting or pain that keeps returning.
• A large break, exposed dentine, suspected pulp exposure, or a lost filling or crown causing pain or concern.
• Swelling, fever, pus, a bad taste or signs of infection.
• A loose, displaced or knocked-out permanent tooth.
• A knocked-out baby tooth, displaced baby tooth or dental trauma in a child, where urgent advice helps avoid harm to developing adult teeth.
• Bleeding from the mouth after injury or recent dental treatment.
• A sharp edge cutting the tongue, cheek or lip.

If you cannot reach your own dentist and need urgent advice, call NHS 111 or use 111 online. NHS 111 can advise the next step but does not guarantee an appointment.

• Serious injury to the face or jaw, suspected broken jaw, or teeth forced out of position after trauma.
• Heavy mouth bleeding that will not stop with pressure.
• Head or facial injury with loss of consciousness, vomiting, confusion, double vision or worsening headache.
• Difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking after an injury.
• Choking, breathing difficulty, or airway concern after a tooth, filling or restoration fragment has come loose.
• Severe swelling of the mouth, throat, neck or eye area.

If symptoms are urgent but not life-threatening and you cannot reach your own dentist, NHS 111 can advise the next step.

A dentist may examine the tooth, gum, bite and surrounding tissues. They may test sensitivity, check whether the tooth moves, and take an X-ray if needed.

Depending on the findings, treatment may include smoothing a sharp edge, bonding, a filling, a crown, root canal treatment, extraction, temporary protection, or referral for more complex trauma care. The right option depends on diagnosis, consent, suitability and fees explained by the practice.