Life can come at you pretty fast—and sometimes, dental emergencies can happen without discretion and when you least expect them to. There’s no doubt that these situations can be incredibly inconvenient and stressful, but did you know that simply having a dental emergency kit ready to go when the time comes can save you quite a bit of trouble? Here’s more from your emergency dentist about the value of having these supplies within reach when you suffer an expected dental injury.
The Value of Being Prepared for Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency is an umbrella term that involves any abnormal symptoms affecting the mouth. Some common examples include things like broken, abscessed or displaced teeth among other issues that affect oral structures. These situations often warrant prompt emergency care from a dental professional in order to prevent them from worsening.
That said, it’s not possible to predict when these situations will unfold, meaning that there’s great value in being prepared for them. One way you can do this is by regularly visiting your dentist for preventive care, as a healthy mouth is far less likely to experience issues. Couple this with maintaining excellent oral hygiene at home. But another way is to have an emergency dental kit standing by; that way, if something does happen, you have the means to mitigate potential disaster!
What to Include in Your Emergency Dental Kit
It’s worth mentioning that this kit doesn’t need to be anything ultra-fancy or expensive, but you should at least try to include the basic essentials. Consider stocking your kit with things like:
- Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, to ease the pain felt during dental emergencies.
- Orajel, which is a topical anesthetic that eases the pain from soft tissue damage.
- An ice pack to assist with swelling or trauma to the mouth.
- Dental floss to assist with food or debris that’s become lodged between teeth.
- Dental wax, which is useful if you have orthodontic appliances poking the inside of your mouth.
- Cotton balls or gauze pads to address bleeding.
- A dental mirror to assist with examining wounds near the back of the mouth.
- A small plastic container for displaced teeth or dental appliances.
- Medical-grade gloves to help prevent the spread of infection and germs.
The bottom line is that it’s impossible to predict a dental emergency entirely, but by having the above items ready to go in case things go south, you can rest assured that your smile won’t be in any long-term jeopardy!
About the Practice
Our team here at Webster Lake Dental is thrilled to provide an excellent level of care for all of our patients and families in the Webster, MA area. We’re excited to offer a wide range of available services, including emergency dentistry for all of your urgent needs. If you have any questions about the blog or you or a loved one is suffering from a dental emergency, don’t wait to contact us for immediate assistance! Telephone: (508) 943-8111.