If your teeth and gums are not in any pain, it can be easy to take them for granted. The possibility of a dental emergency might be the furthest thing from your mind! The reality is, though, that an urgent oral health problem could strike at any time. It is in your best interests to prepare a small emergency kit that can help you minimize the pain and stress of such a situation. What kind of emergencies should you prepare for, and what items should you include in your kit? This blog post explains.
What Kind of Dental Emergencies Should You Prepare For?
If you play sports or are frequently in any situation where you might incur physical injuries, you should keep in mind that an accident could easily lead to a chipped tooth. A tooth might even get knocked loose or fall out altogether! Of course, there are also other types of dental emergencies — ones that develop over time as the result of untreated decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues.
Both types of emergencies require prompt action if you want to minimize their impact and get out of pain ASAP.
What to Include in Your Emergency Dental Kit
A dental emergency kit does not need to be big or bulky. Here are some basic items that should be included:
- A small container with a lid. You can use this to store lost restorations or knocked-out teeth.
- A tooth preservation kit. This can extend the viability of a knocked-out tooth and increase the chances that the tooth can be splinted back into place.
- Pain management. A topical analgesic, along with your over-the-counter pain reliever of choice, should suffice to reduce pain.
- An instant ice pack. The cold temperature can control swelling and reduce inflammation.
- Gauze and cotton balls. These can be used to control bleeding.
- Orthodontic wax. Even if you do not have braces, orthodontic wax can be useful for covering the jagged edges of broken teeth.
- Sterile gloves. A pair of gloves can increase sanitation if you need to reach into your own mouth or someone else’s.
- Oral hygiene tools. A toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are always good to have on hand!
- A dental mirror. This can help you to get a better understanding of the problem.
As you probably noticed, many of the essentials for a dental emergency pack are common in general first-aid kits. You may only need to add a few items in order to be prepared for almost any dental issues that pop up.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Erick Anderson, Ken Gasper, and John Neuhaus are proud to serve the Colorado Springs community. Our team is often able to welcome emergency patients on a same-day basis, so do not hesitate to call if you are suffering from a toothache or another urgent issue. We strive to treat each case with the greatest empathy and skill. Get in touch with us at 719-593-0988.