Creating A Dental Emergency Kit

Even if we’re vigilant about keeping our mouths healthy, a dental emergency can always happen. What makes a difference is making sure you’re prepared for one when it happens. Having a little dental emergency kit can make a big difference in how you handle these situations. Dr. Mark Sowell, a dentist in Plano, TX, highlights what you should have in your dental emergency kit.

Why Should I Have A Dental Emergency Kit?

If you’re prepared for a dental emergency, it can take a lot of stress and pressure off when one happens. While it’s not intended as a replacement for an actual visit to the dentist office, it can help you keep the situation under control until you can be seen. An emergency kit can help you deal with the following:

• Knocked-out tooth
• Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
• Broken or loose dental restoration
• Severe tooth pain

What To Include In Your Dental Emergency Kit

Over-The-Counter Painkillers

Particularly with severe tooth pain, you want to be able to get your discomfort under control. Anti-inflammatory pain medications like ibuprofen help with both pain and any swelling that you experience. A topical method like Orajel that you can put directly on the source is beneficial for pain as well.

Instant Cold Pack

Instant cold packs don’t need to be kept in the freezer to stay cold. You break the container that’s inside the pack. This mixes with the water that’s also inside and the resulting chemical reaction is what creates the cold sensation. Cold packs can help with both pain and swelling to ease your discomfort.

Cotton Rolls

If you lose a tooth or have a mouth injury that’s causing bleeding, cotton rolls help to staunch it. Make sure you’re getting something that doesn’t have a lot of wispy cotton or fibers coming off of it that can get stuck in the socket.

Gloves And Hand Sanitizer

When you’re dealing with wounds and with your mouth, you want to make sure everything is sterile. Sanitize your hands first for extra precaution, and then put on sterile medical gloves. This helps keep things as clean as possible and helps to avoid the spread of infection.

Dental Mirror

The mouth is a small space and it can be hard to look and find the exact cause of bleeding or pain. A dental mirror can help with that. Whether you use it in front of another mirror when you’re on your own or use it to look at someone else’s mouth, it makes identifying the problem a lot easier. Having a lighted mirror or a flashlight on hand is even better.

Hydrogen Peroxide

This is a good thing to have on hand in any first aid or emergency kit. It’s a good disinfectant and is helpful for cleaning up the surrounding area when there’s blood involved. Cleaning wipes are another option to take care of this.

Schedule An Appointment With Your Plano, Texas Dentist

Regularly visiting your dentist can be a big help in avoiding a dental emergency in the future. Call us or schedule an appointment online.