The suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, the kids are at the kennel— (sorry, I meant pets!)—and it’s time for the summer vacation!! There is no better time for relaxing at the beach/pool/mountains, exploring a fascinating city, or enjoying the outdoors. Being miles away from home and the challenges of everyday living always makes it less stressful and more fun, too!
But being miles away from home also means that you are far away from us— your dental professionals. While there is no way to prevent a dental emergency from happening while you are away from home, there are a few things you can bring on vacation to make things more pleasant should a dental emergency arise. You can throw them together into a plastic bag and make your own “Dental Emergency Kit!”
Here are some items to include:
Pain relief: Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, or generic) is usually safe and effective to use for minor dental discomfort.
Lost filling or crown: “Dentemp One Step Filling Material” is a good temporary solution for replacing a crown (cap) or protecting an area exposed by a lost filling. This is available at most drug stores and on the Internet.
Broken denture: “The D.O.C. Denture Repair Kit” works as a short term measure to adhere a lost denture tooth or repair a cracked denture. Please don’t use super glue. This is also available at drug stores and online.
Lost tooth: Carry a prescription medicine vial. Should an accident occur and an adult tooth is lost with the root intact—DO NOT clean or handle the root. Place it in the medicine vial along with some liquid (preferably milk 1st or saliva 2nd) and seek dental attention immediately—hopefully within an hour or two.
Food or other item stuck between teeth: This can be a very uncomfortable situation so be sure to have dental floss on hand to remove any item stuck between the teeth. HEY! You should be carrying dental floss anyway!!
Cuts on gums, lips, or tongue: Clean gauze or cloth. As with bleeding anywhere on the body, pressure with a clean gauze or cloth is the first line of treatment. If the bleeding does not stop, seek medical attention immediately. If you take aspirin or blood thinners, this may take a little longer.
For many minor dental irritations of the teeth, gums and mouth, a good old-fashioned warm salt water rinse can give temporary relief. We are not big fans of medications like Anbesol Gel as there are many side effects and over-usage can harm the mouth tissues.
So there you have it - your own travel dental emergency kit. The most important thing to remember is that all of the solutions presented here are temporary in nature. Should an emergency arise, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.
At the office of Dr. Michael Peer, we are always here for you, even if you are far away from home. If you have any questions about a dental emergency or anything else dental related, please give us a call at 434-575-5677. Have a safe and relaxing summer vacation, and don’t forget to brush and floss!!
ALOHA
