Dental Emergency Kits: What You Need To Have at Home

You should have items in your dental emergency kit that can do the following:

• Control bleeding
• Diagnose your condition
• Prevent further injury
• Prevent infection
• Reduce swelling
• Relieve pain
• Temporarily address broken, partially dislodged, or dislodged teeth
• Treat cavities or lost fillings

Essential items you should have in your kit include the following:

• Alcohol wipes
• Cotton swabs
• Dental floss
• Dental mirror
• Dental wax
• Ingredients to make saltwater rinse
• Painkillers
• Small container
• Temporary dental filling material

Once you build your dental emergency kit, you should create a plan for restocking it. The following items have expiration dates:

• Alcohol wipes: Alcohol wipes typically last between 24 and 36 months.
• Dental wax: Dental wax can last for a decade if it’s stored correctly. Make sure you store it in a closed container when not in use. 
• Medical gloves: The shelf life for medical gloves depends on their materials. Rubber and latex gloves typically last 36 months. Synthetic gloves last up to 60 months.
• Over-the-counter painkillers: Check the container to confirm the expiration date. 
• Saline flushes: Some people opt to purchase saline flushes instead of making saltwater rinses. Store-bought saline flushes have expiration dates on the container.
• Temporary dental filling material: Check the box to confirm its expiration date. You should also check how long the filling material lasts once applied.

Storing dental supplies in a dry, cool place can extend their lifespan. You may need to rotate your supplies more often if you store them in a warm location because heat can reduce their shelf life. 

Keep a list of the expiration dates of items in your kit, and check your kit every six months to determine if items need to be replaced.

Common dental emergencies include the following:

• Broken or cracked tooth
• Broken or lost dental appliance
• Cut gums, lips, or tongue
• Dental abscess
• Dislodged tooth
• Partially dislodged tooth
• Severe toothache

Prompt treatment is crucial because untreated dental emergencies can cause infections and injuries. You may require more invasive and expensive dental treatments if you delay professional treatment for your emergency.

The emergency supplies you need depend on the nature of your dental emergency. Knowing how to handle specific emergencies can help alleviate your pain and other symptoms until you can see an emergency dentist. 

Identify The Issue

A dental mirror is an essential dental emergency tool. You can use a dental mirror to get a clear look at what’s happening inside your mouth, particularly if your back teeth are the source of bleeding, pain, or swelling. You can use the dental mirror when applying dental wax or gauze.

Prevent Further Injuries

Keep medical gloves in your dental emergency kit. Wear gloves when applying cotton balls and gauze to your wounds, dental floss to a broken tooth or appliance, or use alcohol wipes to disinfect wounds. 

Disinfecting Your Wound

Keep alcohol wipes and cotton swabs in your dental emergency kit to disinfect wounds. Disinfecting the area can help you prevent infection. 

Controlling Bleeding

You can use cotton balls and sterile gauze pads to control wound bleeding.

Alleviating Pain

You can alleviate your pain with over-the-counter painkillers, including the following:

• Advil
• Aleve
• Aspirin
• Tylenol

There are also natural and home remedies you can use to alleviate pain, including the following:

• Clove oil
• Hydrogen peroxide rinse
• Peppermint tea bags 
• Saltwater rinse

Put a peppermint tea bag in boiling water. Let it steep for two minutes. Take it out and let it cool down, or put it in the freezer. Put the tea bag against the wound or source of your pain for pain relief. 

Treating Cavities Or Lost Fillings

Put temporary dental filling material in cavities or over the openings left by lost fillings. The temporary filling material provides a short-term filling for the cavity, which helps relieve pain, prevent debris and bacteria from getting inside the cavity, and stabilize the tooth.

Treating Broken Or Dislodged Teeth And Broken Appliances 

Use a saltwater rinse to clean the area and prevent infection if you have a broken or dislodged tooth. 

Broken Teeth And Appliances

Apply dental wax to the edge of a broken tooth. The wax softens the edge and helps to prevent it from cutting your lips or gums. You can also apply it to broken appliances to prevent injury. 

Dislodged Teeth

After rinsing your mouth, secure the tooth in a container with saltwater rinse or milk. This preserves the tooth. If successfully preserved, your dentist may be able to replace the tooth in its socket and save the tooth. 

Dental Floss 

Flossing with dental floss can be an effective way to remove debris and bacteria between teeth. In some cases, flossing can alleviate pain.

You may be able to manage your symptoms with items in your dental emergency kit, but you should still see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. An emergency dentist has the experience and tools to diagnose your condition and provide the treatment you need to restore your dental health.

URBN Dental has multiple offices where you can seek emergency dental treatment in Houston. Our emergency dentists are available around the clock, seven days a week, ensuring anyone with a dental emergency can get prompt, expert dental care. Call our emergency dentist in Houston to find out what you can do to address your emergency before you come in and which of our offices can provide the fastest appointment for emergency dental care.