It is almost summer time in Colorado. That means trips to the mountains, swimming, rafting hiking, and visits to places like The Wild Animal Sanctuary. Summer is an active time for everyone, and no matter what activities you and your family may enjoy, it is a good idea to be ready for accidents and emergencies. Many people and most places have an emergency kit on hand for cuts, bruises, scrapes and sprains. But it is important to remember that oral emergencies also happen from time to time. They may not happen with the same frequency as other incidents, but when they do happen they can be disorienting and frightening. With that in mind, you may want to put together a dental first aid kit. It isn’t hard to put one together, and it may come in handy this summer, or any season.
But what should you put in your dental first aid kit? You want to include nitrile gloves and a dental mirror, and a small flashlight. Those will come in handy if you need to inspect an injury to your mouth and assess the damage. An cold pack can relieve swelling and pain. Clove oil, dabbed on a cotton ball can help with discomfort to your teeth or gums and both are good to have in your dental first aid kit. Over-the-counter pain relievers should be included. You may want to include a topical pain reliever, but talk to our dentist, Dr. [doctor_name] about what brand [heshe] recommends, and whether or not you should use a product that contains benzocaine. A small container of salt can be added to some warm water to create an oral rinse that will relieve discomfort and clean the injured area, and you may also want to keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your kit, which can also be used to clean your mouth and as an initial preventive measure against infection. If the accident or injury results in bleeding gauze can be used to stop or slow any bleeding, or a moist tea bag can do the same thing. (In case you were curious, the tannin in the tea is what stops the bleeding.) A toothbrush, dental floss and toothpicks can be used to remove foreign objects from between teeth. A tooth-preserving solution can be used to keep a tooth viable after it has been knocked out. Temporary filling material and dental cement can be useful if you lose a filling or a crown.
Of course, any time you have a dental emergency, the first thing you should do as soon as you have the situation under control is to call [practice_name] at [phone] for an emergency appointment.
If you have a dental emergency in [city], [state], or if it is just time for your regular cleaning and exam, we would love to see you! In the case of an emergency, we will get you in as soon as possible. For a non-emergency appointment, we will be happy to help you plan your visit.