Our dental office is less than five minutes west of the intersection of I-30 and 360, just north of Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags. We’re also only minutes away from Peach Elementary and Nicholas Junior High School.
Dental emergencies are something that most people would rather not think about. Nobody really likes to dwell on the thought of a toothache or broken oral appliance, but it’s sometimes necessary. After all, the better prepared that you are in the event of an emergency, the better condition you’ll be in should one ever arise.
Many dentists recommend constructing a dental emergency kit, which contains everything you’ll need to get through some of the most common issues you could run into. Here are some examples of things you could put in a dental emergency kit and how they’re used.
What Goes into a Dental Emergency Kit?
While it’s always good to be prepared, you don’t necessarily have to overthink your dental emergency kit. The benefit of building your own is that you’ll be able to fill it with things that pertain to actual situations you may face; if you have braces, for example, your needs will be very different from people who don’t. However, here are some candidates for what you might want to put in your dental emergency kit, categorized by their typical use:
Basic Supplies
- Disposable Gloves: For maintaining hygiene and preventing infection.
- Sterile Gauze: To control bleeding and protect wounds.
- Cotton Balls and Cotton Swabs: For cleaning and applying treatments.
- Tweezers: To remove debris or broken pieces of teeth.
- Dental Mirror: To see inside the mouth more clearly.
- Dental Floss: For removing food particles and debris from between teeth.
Pain and Swelling Management
- Pain Relief Medication: Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Oral Pain Relief Gel: To numb the affected area.
- Cold Compress or Instant Ice Pack: To reduce swelling and numb pain.
Temporary Fixes
- Temporary Dental Filling Material: To cover cavities or broken teeth temporarily.
- Dental Cement: For temporarily reattaching crowns or fillings.
- Orthodontic Wax: To cover sharp edges from broken braces or wires.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Hydrogen Peroxide or Saline Solution: For rinsing and disinfecting the mouth.
- Antiseptic Mouthwash: To clean and disinfect the mouth.
Tools for Specific Emergencies
- Tooth Saver or Saline Solution: For preserving a knocked-out tooth until it can be re-implanted.
- Small Container with a Lid: To store a knocked-out tooth or broken pieces of a tooth.
- Sugar-Free Chewing Gum: Can temporarily hold a filling or crown in place.
Instructions and Information
- Emergency Contact Numbers: Your dentist’s contact information and nearest emergency dental services.
- Instruction Manual: Basic first-aid steps for common dental emergencies.
Again, it’s not necessary to put every single one of these things in your dental emergency kit. Put the ones you think you’ll need most in a convenient carrying case, one small enough that you can take it anywhere!
About the Author
At Sonria Dentista of Arlington, our main goal is to make dental care as easy and convenient for our patients as possible. Of course, that means outfitting our office with a variety of luxuries and giving them our complete undivided attention. However, we also achieve this by ensuring that every one of our patients understands what they can do to keep themselves healthy, both inside and outside of our office.
If you have any questions about a dental emergency, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (682) 900-2616.