Can You File A Tooth With A Nail File

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Sharp tooth edges caused by injury tin be irritating, possibly cutting your tongue or the inside of your cheek. In these cases, filing down the tooth at home with a boom file or an emery board may provide relief. However, if you have whatsoever hurting in the actual tooth, information technology is unsafe to file downwardly the tooth yourself.^[ane] In these cases, you can utilize temporary hurting relievers, such equally wax and medication, until y'all tin can encounter a dentist.

1
Find or buy a regular smash file or diamond encrusted nail file. These tin can be found online on or in a local drug store.
- A regular nail file is cheaper and can get the task done, but a diamond encrusted nail file volition be sharper and brand the filing easier.^[2]
ii
Hold the file horizontal to the tooth that needs filing. Make sure that the tooth you intend to file is pain-gratis before filing, as pain in the tooth may indicate nerve impairment and filing is not recommended.^[iii]
- To get a skilful view of what you're doing, stand in forepart of a mirror while positioning the file.
- Check the position of the file on the tooth and be sure that you are not likely to file other teeth down in the process.
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3
File the tooth down with a few back-and-along strokes. A few strokes, especially when working with a diamond coated file, should bring the tooth to more of a curve and preclude pain and poking.^[4]
- Go slowly and don't overdo it. You want to exist careful not to impairment the enamel by filing the molar down as well much.
iv
Monitor your pain over the next couple of days. If you begin to feel pain in the molar, it is possible the enamel is damaged. If that'south the example, going to see a dentist is the all-time class of activeness.^[5]
- Damaged enamel can lead to many hereafter problems, including molar sensitivity, cavities, fracturing, and increased decay, and so information technology is a good idea to run into a dentist for treatment.
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1
Buy a non-metal emery lath. You can detect an emery board online or at a local drug store.^[six] It's all-time to purchase an emery lath that is non made of metal, as metal might crusade harm.^[seven]
- Some dentists exercise not recommend emery boards, because enamel is hard and may demand something sharper, but it may exist an OK selection if only a small amount of filing is needed.
2
Identify the emery lath flat confronting your tooth. Stand in front of a mirror so yous have a good view of the tooth yous wish to file down also as the emery lath.^[eight] As with using a nail file, you desire to exist sure that the tooth in question is pain-gratis.
- If yous are experiencing pain in the tooth, it is not a good idea to keep with filing.^[ix]
3
File downwardly the molar with a few back-and-forth strokes. You lot want to file down the tooth so that it is no longer cutting your mouth or tongue, but once that signal has been reached it is best to end.^[10]
- Exist conservative with your filing, as you do not want to harm the enamel.
4

Pay attention to whatever pain in the tooth. If the tooth is causing pain, it is possible you have damaged the enamel. This can lead to dental problems in the hereafter, then it is a good idea to get come across a dentist.^[eleven]

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1

Find orthodontic wax at your local drug shop. If you lot cannot file the molar down due to potential nerve damage and are waiting to see a dentist, blanket the tooth with wax can provide temporary relief.^[12]
2
Have ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain temporarily. While this will non fix the problem, it can save the irritating symptoms until you accept time to get to the dentist or sort out the root of the tooth pain.^[thirteen]
- Be careful not to assume that the problem is gone simply because the hurting is.
- Pain medication is not a long term solution, and you should try to run across a dentist if pain persists. In some cases, waiting long periods before treatment can worsen the damage.
3
Eat soft, teeth-friendly foods. When you are experiencing tooth hurting, it can aid to avert food and drinks that might irritate the enamel and focus your diet on soft food that is less likely to irritate or damage tooth enamel.^[14]
- Foods and drinks to avoid: sour candies, bread, alcohol, soda, water ice, citrus, potato chips and dried fruits. Many of these are high in sugar and acid, which attacks enamel and leads to breakdown.^[15]
- Non-irritating soft foods: Applesauce, soft cheeses, soups, oatmeal, eggs, mashed potatoes, watermelon, yogurt, cottage cheese, noodles, rice.^[16]
4

Limit the corporeality of talking you're doing. Especially if the precipitous molar is cutting into your mouth, information technology can assist to cut downwards on conversation to avoid further cutting the inside of your cheeks. If you tin can, endeavor writing down cursory messages rather than talk - y'all might even say yous're on song rest for a bit.^[17]

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1
Search for dentists in your area online, in impress, or through friends. If you are in severe pain, yous may demand to find an emergency dentist. If not, you can find dentists in your area through friends, the yellowish pages, or the cyberspace.^[18] If you already have a dentist, get ahead and give them a telephone call.
- Discover a dentist that is shut enough for you to reach conveniently.
- If you work somewhere with dental benefits, check with your employer to see what dentists are covered by your insurance.
- If yous demand help affording dental care, try calling your country'due south dental association and encounter what resources are bachelor.
- You tin can fix up a gratis consultation at most dentists if you demand help deciding.
2
Brand an appointment. Make an appointment with the dentist you've selected and evidence upwards at the engagement and fourth dimension to their office.
- If the appointment is far in the future and y'all are experiencing hurting, consider using orthodontic wax on the tooth or pain medication to save your hurting in the meantime.
iii
Talk over the options with your dentist and determine on a treatment. If you're looking to file down the tooth for aesthetic reasons, inquire your dentist about recontouring, a procedure where the tooth is reshaped for cosmetic reasons.^[xix] If the tooth is chipped, ask your dentist what treatments will brand the most sense to protect the tooth.^[20]
- Your dentist may recommend dental burring, bonding, crowns, or dental implants.
- With a burr, your dentist will smoothen the sharp areas down with a very fine diamond so the surface feels smooth.^[21]
- Brand an informed decision with your dentist based on how serious the problem is and how much the procedures will probable cost.
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Question

Why is my molar precipitous?

Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Bailiwick of jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated superlative of his form with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive grooming program at the Bronx VA Medical Eye and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and direction. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York University of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Carry Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.

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Expert Respond

Sometimes, a tooth becomes sharp when yous apply it a lot. Information technology'southward like sharpening a tool—the more you lot use your molar, the sharper it gets.

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Enamel damage can cause serious issues down the line, and in many cases, seeing a dentist right away volition exist your best option.^[22] If you are going to attempt to file the tooth down, practise so with care and consider following up with a dentist if there are any problems.

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Article Summary Ten

Before you file downwards your precipitous tooth, visit your dentist to treat any tooth pain you're having, since y'all may need a dental procedure. If your tooth is not in pain, you tin can safely file it downwardly with a non-mental emery board. To practise this, place the emery board against the bottom of the tooth and slowly file it back and forth a few times. Only make sure you don't file it besides much, every bit this could damage the enamel of your tooth. To learn how to utilise wax to protect your rima oris from a sharp tooth, read on!

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