I was playing baseball last Saturday and the 3rd time I was up to bat the pitcher was totally off mark. I saw the ball coming but I couldn’t completely get out of the way fast enough. The ball hit the right side of my mouth and within seconds my lips and gums were burning. I was sure that I had a tooth knocked out but it wasn’t. I sat out for the rest of the game with a cold bottle of water over my mouth because there wasn’t anything around to make an icepack with. My tooth is has been hurting pretty bad on and off and this morning when I woke up it looked a little darker than it did before the hit. Is this something that will heal since it’s not loose or broken? Austin N.
Austin – Your tooth needs to be examined to determine the extent of the damage to it. When a tooth begins to darken, it may be caused by blood that has leaked into the dentin of the tooth—the layer beneath the enamel.
Another possibility is that a nerve in your tooth has been damaged. Or a tooth root may be damaged. You should see a dentist right away to determine the type and extent of the damage to your tooth.
Depending on the cause of the discoloration, the tooth may heal and the discoloration will gradually go away. Or it may be discoloration needs to be treated by your dentist. If there is serious trauma to your tooth, you will also need a root canal treatment, but the dentist can make it painless.
Since the extent of the damage is unknown, it’s best to see your dentist right away for an examination and treatment.
This post is sponsored by Port St. Lucie dentist Dr. Aaron Schamback.