Sometimes life comes at you pretty fast—and you might be minding your own business, happily plugging away at work or relaxing at home when out of nowhere, you’re stricken by a dental emergency! However, you don’t have to live in fear of suffering a dental injury, nor do you have to sit around, totally unprepared for one; having an emergency dental kit ready to go will ensure that no matter what type of situation unfolds involving your pearly whites, you’re in good shape! Here’s what your emergency dentist thinks you should include in this useful kit.
Why It Never Hurts to Be Prepared
A dental emergency involves any situation with abnormal symptoms affecting the teeth, gums, tongue, cheek, or other oral structures. Since it’s an umbrella term, it can include a wide variety of situations, including issues such as abscessed, damaged, or displaced teeth, severe toothaches, oral lacerations, extreme sensitivity, and more—all of which warrant prompt professional care.
But since it’s not possible to predict when these situations will happen, your best bet is to try to stay on top of your oral health—after all, a healthy mouth is far less likely to experience any issues. This can be done by visiting your dentist regularly, maintaining excellent oral hygiene at home, and steering clear of bad oral habits like smoking, using tobacco, and biting into hard objects. With that in mind, one other consideration is to keep a dental emergency kit standing by; that way, if something does happen, you can begin damage control!
What You Should Include in Your Dental Emergency Kit
Your dental emergency kit doesn’t need to be anything fancy, and it isn’t something you have to spend a great deal of money on. Here are some ideas for items to keep stocked in your kit, all of which are relatively affordable and accessible:
Dental Floss
The vast majority of dental professionals agree that when it comes to dislodging bits of food or debris from teeth that are causing distress, nothing can compare to dental floss.
Cotton Balls or Gauze Pads
If your injury has caused bleeding inside or around your mouth, cotton balls, clean gauze pads, or a handkerchief can be useful. You might also consider alcohol wipes for cleaning and disinfecting.
Small Plastic Container
If you or someone you know suffers a displaced tooth or restoration, you’ll want a plastic container to store and transport it and any fragments.
Ice Pack
If your urgent situation has caused uncomfortable swelling or inflammation, an ice pack or cold compress can provide a great amount of relief.
Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, can ease a considerable amount of the discomfort associated with toothaches; just keep in mind that they won’t address the actual problem itself.
Latex Gloves
Latex, vinyl, or another type of medical-grade gloves can also prove useful, especially if you’re assisting someone other than yourself since they limit the possibility of spreading germs.
Dental Mirror
A small dental mirror, or even a mirror used with make-up kits, can assist with examining wounds near the back of the mouth.
Dental Wax
This is especially useful for patients with braces, since it can be used to cover any problematic brackets or poking/prodding wires.
It’s simply impossible to predict when, where, or how an emergency will unfold—but it’s quite easy to be prepared for one! Be sure you’re ready to tackle the unexpected by having a dental emergency kit ready to go; your pearly whites will thank you.
About the Practice
The team at Dr. Costa & Dr. Waxman Family Dentistry has proudly served patients and families in the Worcester, MA community for several years, offering a wide range of services including emergency dentistry for those with urgent needs. If you have any questions about the blog or you or someone you know is suffering from a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact us today for additional information; we are ready to help! Telephone: (508) 715-6166.