7 Items You Should Include In Your Dental Emergency Kit

Posted on: 30 March 2015

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Dental emergencies such as toothaches, chipped teeth, and even teeth that have been completely knocked out will be much easier to handle if you have prepared a dental emergency kit. Having certain items on hand will allow you to quickly begin to take proactive steps to minimize dental emergencies. Following are seven items you should compile and keep in an easily-accessible place in the event you or someone in your household experiences a dental emergency.

Saline Solution

One of the first things you will need to take in order to sooth a toothache is to thoroughly rinse your mouth out with a saline solution at room temperature. Although you can easily make a salt-water rinse by combining one teaspoon of regular table salt with one cup of lukewarm water, having a ready made over-the-counter product on hand will save you time and hassle, particularly if you've got a child with a toothache who is crying. Keep in mind, however, that saline solutions should not be used if cuts or lesions are present on the inside of the mouth because this may result in extreme pain.

Small Plastic Container With a Lid

In the event a tooth has been knocked out, it is important to have a place to put it so the emergency dentist can possibly replant the tooth successfully. If a tooth has been knocked out, do not rinse or wipe it off because it may contain important soft tissue that will be instrumental to replantation. Place the tooth in the designated container with some milk or some of your own saliva and call your emergency dentist. Keep in mind that chances that the tooth can be replanted are greatest when you are able to see your dentist within one hour of it being knocked out.

Temporary Oral Pain Reliever Cream

There are several over-the-counter oral pain reliever creams available at your local drug and variety retailer. Personal preference should guide which type you decide to include in your emergency dental kit. If you are unsure of which kind best suits your individual needs and purposes, ask your dental care professional to recommend a product.

Clean Handkerchief

You should include at least one clean handkerchief in your dental emergency kit. It can be used to gently pick up a tooth that has been knocked out of the mouth and place it in the designated receptacle mentioned above. It can also be used to create a quick cold compress to place on the outside of the mouth to temporarily relieve toothache pain -- simply tie it around a couple of cubes of ice.

Gauze

Gauze is a soft, breathable material that can be used to apply oral pain reliever cream and can also be sued to apply pressure that can slow or stop bleeding. Dental-grade gauze comes in both rolls and pads and is available from variety and drug retail outlets. Both types are recommended for inclusion in your dental emergency kit.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is instrumental in reducing swelling and can be given to both adults and children according to package directions. Avoid giving aspirin in a dental emergency because unlike Ibuprofen, aspirin is an anti-coagulant that causes thinning of the blood, which could complicate a dental emergency by resulting in excess bleeding. Ibuprofen can be given to ease pain and swelling in a variety of situations such as soft-tissue inflammations, tooth loss, and toothaches caused by cavities.

Your 24-Hour Dentist Contact Information

The last thing you need to do while attempting to deal with a dental emergency is to scramble for the contact information of your emergency dentist. Having this information written down and placed in a secure location in your emergency dental kit will help ensure that you can contact with your 24-hour dentist as soon as possible. If you want, you can click here for more information.