If you play contact sports or do other activities that put you at an increased risk for dental emergencies, you want to be sure you are always prepared for the worst case scenario. There are some items you really want to have with you. If you do play sports, keep a kit in your sports bag. Otherwise, keep it in the trunk of your car, in your locker or in another accessible location. Here are 5 items you want to make sure you have in your dental kit:
Gauze – Put some gauze in your dental kit in case of a dental emergency. You can use the gauze if you knock out your tooth. You will take the tooth and wash it clean with your saliva. Make sure you don't touch the root with your hands. Once it's washed off, put it directly back into the socket and bite down on a piece of gauze with the affected tooth. Get to an emergency dentist, such as Salem Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, immediately for an increased chance of saving the tooth.
Over-the-counter pain reliever – You want to have some pain reliever with you so you can alleviate the pain as quickly as possible. As soon as you get injured, you want to take it so it begins working quickly. You may want to keep a small bottle of water in your kit as well. This will make it easier for you to swallow the medication if it's in pill or capsule form.
Medical gloves – You want to have a set of medical gloves in your dental kit. This way, if you hurt yourself, you won't have to worry about putting your dirty hands in your mouth. Also, if you need help from someone else, they can wear the gloves to protect them from potential blood born risks.
Instant cold pack – An instant cold pack is one you activate by crushing. It can be kept in your kit and activated on the spot. If you injure your mouth, you want to apply the cold pack to the outside and hold it there for about 20 minutes. This will help to ease the pain and keep the swelling down.
Peroxide – You want to have peroxide in your kit in case you hurt your mouth. Rinsing your mouth out with some peroxide will help to clean it and remove dirt and germs acquired during the incident.
You'll feel better knowing you are prepared once you get your emergency dental kit put together. If you do have a dental emergency, you always want to get in to see the dentist as soon as you can. It's a good idea to carry the number of your dentist and an emergency dentist with you at all times.
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