If you’ve developed a persistent or severe toothache or lost or damaged a tooth or restoration, you’ll need to act fast to save your smile. Emergency dental problems don’t usually resolve themselves and only worsen over time, so the longer it goes unaddressed, the more vulnerable you are to additional harm.
Unfortunately, urgent issues frequently arise during evenings or weekends when your dentist isn’t available. Keeping an easily accessible dental emergency kit close by ensures you’ll have what you need to address the problem until you can make an appointment. If you’re unsure what to include, keep reading to learn more!
What Should I Include in My Dental Emergency Kit?
Although it’s impossible to predict exactly when you might have a dental emergency, you can take proactive steps to prepare for one, like building a special kit with all the necessary items. That way, you’ll be prepared with everything you need to safeguard your smile if or when something occurs.
Suggested supplies can include:
- Alcohol wipes. You don’t want to reach into your (or someone else’s) mouth with germy fingers because it increases the risk of infection. These wipes are an easy and efficient way to sanitize before taking care of an injury or other issue.
- Cotton balls. These are great to bite down on to control bleeding and can be used as applicators to apply medications or to clean a cut or injury.
- Floss. If you’ve ever had a piece of food stuck between your teeth, you already know just how painful and frustrating it can be. Flossing can loosen the object without injuring your teeth or gums.
- Dental mirror. It’s notoriously difficult to see behind your teeth, especially toward the back of your mouth, but having this instrument in your kit ensures you can visualize every corner.
- Dental wax. This is traditionally used to cover the metal wires and brackets of braces so they don’t poke the tender tissues of your gums, lips, or cheeks. However, it can also be used to cover the jagged edges of an injured tooth or restoration, or temporarily anchor a dislodged one in place.
- Ice pack. Pressing a cold compress to your face provides a temporary numbing sensation to alleviate throbbing and swelling.
- Salt. Rinsing your mouth with saltwater naturally disinfects bacteria, clears away debris, and reduces aches and inflammation. You can keep a few packets of salt and bottles of water in your kit so you’ll always have the supplies to mix your own solution.
Now that you know what to include with your emergency dental supplies, you’re prepared to handle anything that comes your way!
About the Practice
At Cedric C. Chenet, DDS, PA, you and your family benefit from a team of dentists with 40+ years of combined experience. They work together to offer a full array of services to meet all your needs conveniently under one roof, including emergency services. Plus, they offer same-day appointments with some evening hours, so you don’t have to wait for relief if you have an urgent issue. Their friendly office is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to quickly assess the damage and build appropriate treatment plans to save your smile. You can request an appointment on the website or call (321) 253-3136.