Stocking Your Dental First Aid Kit

We've all come to expect bumps, bruises and cuts when we're out and about, especially when kids are part of the deal. Consequently, many people tote along bandages, ice packs and antiseptics. Some even carry bee sting kits and accidental poisoning remedies. But what happens if your crown or filling falls out? Or if your child knocks out a permanent tooth, or breaks her braces? And what would you do if you got a toothache out in the middle of nowhere? Dr. Richard Price, spokesman for the American Dental Association, recommends packing along a small dental first aid kit, which should include:

Clove oil, a natural pain reliever
Tweezers
A dental mirror (ask your dentist where to pick one up)
Small cotton pellets (again, ask your dentist where to get these);
keep them in a zipper-style bag
Petroleum jelly
Dental floss
Soft dental wax, carried by drugstores or available from your orthodontist
Your dentist's phone number, and your insurance information.[for example our phone numbers: (555) 555-5555]

Please print up and bring along the following first aid instructions for common dental emergencies.

If you lose a filling,

Pain is the issue here. If you aren't in any pain, simply keep the area clean, and see your dentist as soon as you can. But if it hurts? Take a clean tweezers, and grab one of the cotton pellets. Dip it in a little bit of clove oil and place it in the tooth. Don't just dab it; put the whole cotton pellet in the tooth and leave it there. This should minimize the pain until you can get to a dentist. But be cautioned - NEVER put an aspirin on your tooth or gum. Aspirin is an acid and can burn the tissue

If a cap or a crown falls off

Coat the inside of the cap or crown with petroleum jelly and gently place it back on the tooth. See your dentist as soon as you can.

If wires on braces break

There are a few things you can do to minimize the discomfort of orthodontic wire protruding from your teeth. Ideally, cover the sharp end with a small piece of dental wax; orthodontists will provide this material for you. If you don't have any wax, you can use a little chunk of pre-chewed sugarless gum. It's not pretty, but it does the job.

If you knock out a tooth

If it's a baby tooth, don't worry about it. However, if it's a permanent tooth, you should rinse it with water only and try to put it gently back into the tooth socket. Don't scrub the tooth, as this could damage it. You can hold the tooth in place with a gauze pad or clean washcloth.

The next best place to keep the tooth is in the mouth, between the cheek and gum, to keep it moist. But if that's not possible, submerge the tooth in a glass of milk.

And no matter where you hold the tooth, get to a dentist as quickly as possible. It's likely the tooth can be saved IF you get to the dentist within 30 minutes of losing it.

If a tooth is dislodged/loosened

Get to a dentist immediately. Many dentists will make room in their schedule to tend to dental emergencies.