HOW TO COPE WITH A DENTAL CRISIS ON VACATION Do You Have an Emergency Kit for Your Teeth?
Picture this: After more than a year of waiting, your family has finally embarked on an epic cross-country road trip. You’re jamming out to the music and enjoying all your favorite snacks while you drive. But then, the worst happens! When you bite into a chewy caramel Milk Dud, it yanks the crown right off of your tooth. What would you do in that situation? Would you panic? Call your dentist? Pull in to the first dental office you see? It can be tough to know how to cope with a dental crisis far from home. Luckily, there are some dentist- recommended ways to handle loose crowns, cracked or lost fillings, broken dentures, and more while on the road.
To make sure a dental mishap doesn’t ruin your summer trip, keep these tips and tricks in mind and call your dentist for advice as needed. You can always stop at a gas station or pharmacy for the items you need, but to take your preparations a step further, pack a dental emergency kit.
A Quick Fix-It Guide
To fix ...
• A Loose or Missing Crown: Dab denture glue onto the inside of the crown, maneuver it into the correct position, and bite down to set the glue. Eat gingerly for the rest of your vacation and visit your dentist when you get home. • A Lost Filling: Buy a filling repair kit, filling paste, or dental cement and follow the instructions on your product to fill the gap in your tooth. When you get home, see your dentist. • Broken Dentures: For serious denture breaks, head to a dentist at your vacation spot. If the damage is minor, try fixing it temporarily by using denture glue to put pieces back together; file sharp metal or acrylic edges with a nail file. • A Lost or Chipped Tooth: If you chip a tooth, save the pieces and bring them to your dentist when you get home. For more serious chips or cracks, rinse your mouth out, hold an ice pack to the outside of your cheek, and visit a nearby dentist for help. If you lose a tooth completely, don’t rinse it! Instead, drop the tooth in a cup of milk or water and head to a dentist ASAP. • A Toothache: First, try flossing and brushing your teeth, then wait to see if the pain goes away. If it doesn’t, take a painkiller, and if it persists throughout your vacation, visit your dentist when you get home.
Your Dental Emergency Kit
The kit should include all the items listed in the fixes above, except for milk, which doesn’t pack well! Here’s a quick roundup:
• A filling repair kit
• Denture glue
• A nail file
• A small glass jar or plastic bag for saving tooth pieces
• A cup for saving a lost tooth (Your jar will also work for this!)
• Your pain medication of choice, e.g., Excedrin or ibuprofen
With these necessities in your suitcase, you’ll never be caught unprepared with a dental emergency!
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