There are two categories of tooth pain. The first will make you wonder whether you should go to the dentist or not. The second is the kind so bad that you aren’t wondering at all. If you’re experiencing the second kind, the only thing this guide can tell you is to follow your instincts. For the first kind, however, you may not be sure that what you’re experiencing is a genuine dental emergency. If you’re still wondering, here are four types of dental pain you should definitely talk to a professional about.

Life is about the stories we tell. When misfortune strikes, we can always say “well, at least there’s a story here.” If you were to chip a tooth, you’d want the story to involve extreme sports or a life-threatening stunt. You wouldn’t want to have to explain it by saying: “I once bit down too hard on a chicken bone.”

If you aren’t careful about what you eat, several foods can cause a dental emergency. To avoid winding up with an embarrassing story, here are three foods that can chip teeth.