Breaking a tooth is always concerning and unexpected and usually happens at the worst time like the day before a holiday or when preparing for an exam so what is the best course if action you can take to temporarily repair your tooth until you can visit your dentist?
A chipped tooth is usually a fractured cusp due to wear and tear of a filled tooth or it could be secondary to tooth decay. Tooth decay is often not evident until the overlying enamel fractures off. The best course of action is obviously to contact your dentist as soon as possible to get it fixed however if this is not immediately possible then you have a couple of options.
If the chipped tooth is small and there is no pain then often there is no immediate action you need to take. If however the fracture is larger and it is painful or rubbing on your tongue then you will need to address this. Most pharmacies now stock temporary filling material that you can insert into the cavity. These are often medicated and set hard once you insert it into the tooth. This will provide some relief from any sharp edges and help ease any pain however can often be tricky to apply it inside your mouth.
Dental wax is also good for inserting into cavities and around any fractured areas. It usually requires warming in the hand slightly to soften it a little before applying. Never attempt to stick any fractured teeth back into the mouth with superglue or any other adhesive.
If you have chipped one of your front teeth you will not be able to repair this yourself as you will need a bonded composite restoration performed by your dentist. If you have suffered any trauma to the face then you may need to visit the hospital for further assessment and X-rays to rule out any other damage to the surrounding areas and/or root fractures.